As part of its mission to foster cultural exchange between Malaysia and Japan, The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur (JFKL) has partnered with the Museum of Asian Art and Universiti Malaya to present the Asian Master Series: 03 Yoshisuke Funasaka Solo Exhibition: Intipati from June 11th to July 31st, 2025.
The exhibition honours the profound works of Yoshisuke Funasaka, an esteemed woodblock print artist who has trained many international artists including Malaysian print artist Juhari Said. Running from June 11-July 31, 2025, the exhibition showcases a range of 100 works from Yoshisuke Funasaka’s career, with iconic pieces from the artist’s acclaimed My Space and My Dimension series.
Admission is free and open to all art lovers, students, and the public.
This exhibition is a significant cultural milestone, introducing to Malaysia the work of a master artist which showcases the blending of traditional Japanese woodblock printing techniques with modern artistic expression. Curated by Malaysian printmaker and former student Juhari Said, the exhibition is personal tribute reflecting cross-cultural mentorship and exchange.
Juhari’s time studying under Funasaka in Tokyo during the early 1990s laid the foundation for this exhibition. “Learning from Yoshisuke Funasaka was about embracing a way of life rooted in tradition and simplicity. To him, an artist must live as a true human being first,” shares Juhari.
The artist, Yoshisuke Funasaka, has also generously donated over 240 original works to University of Malaya’s permanent collection as part of a cultural legacy that aims to support education, research, and future exhibitions in Malaysia.
Visitors to the exhibition will discover a form of art where geometric forms and empty spaces interplay to create works of timeless beauty. Funasaka’s integration of traditional techniques such as katagami stencil and silk screening demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of material and method, bridging past and present.
In conjunction with the exhibition, a 3-day Traditional Japanese Baren Making Workshop led by Yoshisuke Funasaka himself will be held. The participants will learn to craft their own baren, a hand tool traditionally used in Japanese woodblock printing. Additionally, an exclusive talk presented by Juhari Said will be held on June 14 at 2.30PM.
