The series by Yang gives full expression of his passion for painting and sports.

He learned about horse-racing in Inner Mongolia and used to swim in Kunming Lake at the Summer Palace in Beijing. He combined his enthusiasm for sports with his passion for sketching and found it a great pleasure to explore the variations of lines to present the feeling of freedom, energy and speed while people engage in athletic competitions.

Wu Hongliang, director of the Beijing Fine Art Academy, says when he first saw Yang's exhibited drawings in 2018, he was mesmerized by Yang's ability to freeze on paper the instance of motion when it happened.

"The details under his brushes and pens also present the weight of the human body, delivering a sense of volume, spirituality and eternity," Wu says.

Those close to Yang say his depictions of athletes, as well as of herdsmen living on the grasslands, are exuberant with heroism.