Yu Xianzi (photographer Sun Fanyuan)

People are always fascinated by the works of Yu Xianzi (aka the “Fairy of Fish”), a famous painter from Shandong Province. The fish drawn by him are so vivid that they seem to come directly from nature and at the same time, deep from the human soul. Amazed audiences often applaud his works.

In traditional Chinese culture, fish symbolize auspices and prosperity. Its Chinese pronunciation, “Yu”, coincides with the meaning “surplus”, which indicates affluence and is most welcomed by the Chinese. In important festivals such as the Spring Festival, fish always appear on Chinese dining tables. It not only serves as delicate food, but also enriches the Chinese culture. Since ancient times, numerous intellectuals and poets have expressed their emotions and ideals through fish, gradually forming into a unique fish culture, of which Yu Xianzi is a great fan.

Yu Xianzi was born in 1961 and grew up in Jinan, capital city of Shandong province. He later pursued studies at Nankai University in Tianjin. Yu Xianzi has a deep love for fish, but also for his three-member family, who shares his passion for painting. His beloved wife Zhou Jun is a member of the Shandong Female Painting and Calligraphy Association. She has talent for drawing plums, people and fish, but writing poems is also her specialty. Zhou draws fish in a unique style, which she’s accomplished through years and years of observation and practice. Yu and Zhou’s son, Li Junshan, loves painting bamboo. The family usually indulges in painting and writing, radiating a happy atmosphere.

It took a long time for Yu Xianzi to go from loving to draw fish to finally excelling at drawing fish, which was helped by his exposure to them. During his leisure time, Yu enjoyed fish-farming, observing the movement and habits of the fish. Decades of effort and patience finally paid off, when fish drawn by Yu turned out to be superb.

One of Yu's art works--Spiritual Ramble

Yu’s achievements since those early days are impressive. His artwork has won local and international awards, and he has held several individual art exhibitions. His name has been registered into the “Collection of the World’s Celebrities in Cultural Circles”, and his works have been complied into the “Dictionary of Authentic Works by Notable Contemporary Painters and Calligraphers” and collected by various art museums.

By Li Jing