Song of Eternal Sorrow, a painting by Ye Qianyu on show. [Photo provided to China Daily]

His intensive journeys across the country to regions inhabited by ethnic groups, mostly in the 1950s, further broadened his outlook.

Ye once said: "I don't deny the influence of traditional art, such as the dancers depicted in the murals of the Dunhuang grottoes. But, above all, it's my strong interest in (dancing) that draws me to paint."

His works reveal his studies of traditional art and folk cultures that he depicted with neat composition and vivid palettes. His paintings are hailed as colorful and animated.

He also employed sketching techniques and the bright, cheery styles of caricatures to give his paintings a modern touch and a sense of straightforwardness, which appealed to more audiences.