Born in Hubei, a province known for its history and cultural depth, Yi Zhiqun has committed the last 60 years of his life to paying tribute to his home.

"I want to forget my age. I need to seize every minute to continue to make progress, and to exceed myself on many levels," the now 86-year-old says.

Yi says his painting career has spanned decades during which he has focused on a single thing: a deep exploration of the roots of the Chinese and Jing-Chu cultures to which he was born, by which he has been nurtured, and of which he is proud, and that he intends to spare no effort to carry on their spirit.