Instead of the aloofness and solitude seen in ancient works, his paintings have a lively spirit, rich colors and a vibrant atmosphere in addition to his skillful brushwork.

Some critics say his works are so good that viewers seem to be able to hear birds chirping and smell the fragrance of flowers.

Many compare his paintings to poems and music, saying that they can feel Yu's praise of nature and love for life in his works.

Thanks to the admirable features, many of his works are kept at such stately places as the Diaoyutai Guesthouse and the Great Hall of the People.

Despite the achievement, Yu, already in his 80s, is working hard in his continuing quest of his artistic dream.

He said art requires practical and solid work, adding that it is especially important in a world that craves fast achievement.

Biography

Yu Jigao is a traditional Chinese painter known for his fine brush bird-and-flower works.

Born in Jiangsu province in 1932, he graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at Nanjing Normal University in 1955 and helped establish the Jiangsu Traditional Chinese Painting Institute two years later.

Yu held exhibitions of his paintings in Beijing in 1986, Guangzhou in 1988 and at the UN headquarters in New York in 1997.

The UN presented him with an award for his achievements in traditional Chinese painting and cross-cultural exchanges.

Some of his works are kept at the State Council, the Tian'anmen rostrum, the Diaoyutai Guesthouse, the Great Hall of the People and the office of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Among others, he is a director of the China Artists Association, a member of the administrative committee of the Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Painting and vice-president of the Jiangsu Artists Association.