China's mermaid

Yu used to paint mountains, rivers, flowers and birds, all of which are commonly seen in traditional Chinese ink paintings, but she has decided to focus on the underwater world in her future works.

The changing deep sea feeds Yu with abundant inspiration and she is encouraged that her art contributes to promoting marine conservation.

"It's important for an artist to fulfill his or her social responsibility," Yu says.

The most attractive element in Yu's exhibits is her bold use of color. Blue, green, red, orange, yellow, purple and many other colors flow freely, as if the rainbow in the sky has fallen into the sea.

On of the visitors to Yu's exhibition in Guangzhou, Zhou Xiaoxian, says the moment she entered the hall, she was drawn to Yu's paintings. Many other visitors were also seen taking photos of Yu's breathtaking art works.

"These paintings have a strong visual impact and deeply move me. I have never gone diving and my interaction with the sea is limited to playing on a beach," Zhou says.

"Now I feel more connected to the ocean and will pay more attention to the issue of marine conservation in the future."

Having stayed in the US to study and work for 28 years, Yu returned to China together with her husband and settled down in Guangzhou, her husband's hometown, in 1993.

The public-spirited couple have been actively engaged in promoting English education, environmental protection and cultural exchanges between China and the US.

Yu's husband Yu Baoxian was among the pioneer batch of volunteer supervisors of automobile exhausts for Guangzhou Environmental Protection Bureau in 2008. During their patrols across the city, Yu acts as the cameraman while her husband drives. Whenever they spot a vehicle letting out black smoke, Yu will quickly snap a shot of the license plate and report it to the bureau.

"I'm a Chinese-American but my root is in China. That's why I returned to the motherland 19 years ago," says Yu.

"I have witnessed the development of the city and the country. I care for China, and I hope to see it gets better and better."

Yu also hopes that her paintings about the underwater world can help supplement the deficiency of public education on water conservation in China.

She says residents in some places in China haven't realized the value of water resources. Yu's husband reveals that in Yunnan province, he saw local villagers washing clothes in rivers.

"We can't blame those who don't know that they should protect the ocean. I hope my paintings can bring the message of marine conservation to these people in China and other countries," says Yu.

"Paintings can go beyond language and spread the message around the globe."

Contact the writer at xujingxi@chinadaily.com.cn.