Shanghai Chinese Quintessence Art Co on Wednesday contributed 20 works inspired by famed painter Liu Linghua to the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

The donation, 20 pieces of embroidery of Liu's oil paintings, are valued at 800,000 yuan (US$103,896) and will be offered to foreign VIPs participating in the event.

Liu, a Shaanxi Province native, has earned a reputation at home and abroad for his oil paintings, which combine traditional Chinese painting and graphic arts. In 2001, 26 of Liu's oil paintings were selected as the only exhibits during the APEC meeting. His best well-known work "Years" is valued at 12 million yuan.

"We selected 20 excellent oil paintings by Liu and hired local embroidery masters to finish the needle work," said a company official surnamed Sun.

(Shanghai Daily August 30, 2007)