For his drawings, Yang Gang sourced inspiration from Chinese calligraphy as a highly expressive art form in which the varying speed and pressure of the pointed brushes lead to a variety of styles. He found the balance between letting free and controlling by hand while practicing calligraphy, a shared tactic with some sports.

Dong Zhenghe, his widow and a calligrapher, says Yang Gang practiced calligraphy for three to four hours a day after he turned 50, and he was influenced by Huaisu, an eminent Buddhist monk and calligrapher from the eighth century, who specialized in writing the cursive script of caoshu.

"Yang Gang loved to paint sport motifs as he was fascinated with the beauty of fleeting moments and wanted to present that, and to hail the power of life constantly emerging and growing," Dong says.

Contact the writer at linqi@chinadaily.com.cn