Zheng Zaidong’s paintings pay tribute simultaneously to classical Chinese literature and Surrealism, but is explicit that his works are not referential: “when I use certain images I absolutely do not want to know anything about their symbolism, for me they are signs that spontaneously surface in my mind.” Zheng’s early works were most strongly influenced by Chinese poetry, and his later works continue to take the titles of phrases from famous verses, sometimes featuring quoted phrases in their compositions. His works frequently feature landscapes with disorienting distances, and composite perspectives. Zheng’s subjects appear almost abstract and floating because of his pattern-like execution of line and flat application of color.