2009-06 is part of a larger series inspired by Zheng’s reflections on desire. In this piece, he pushes the boundaries between abstract expressionism and formalism. At the center of the composition a vaguely human form with outstretched arms divides the black background into four quadrants. This figure is composed, or perhaps engulfed, by colorful, feathery brushwork. These undulating, near-translucent swirls of light and color have a flame-like quality, and seem to rise through the composition. In the black background, bright sparks of of color stream by diagonally. The overall effect is elegant yet ambiguous. Like much of Zheng’s work, this painting communicates a sense of transience. Perhaps the flames are consuming the figure, and its beauty is merely a byproduct of this destruction. Alternatively, it might simply be a coalescence of light and energy in space.

A word from The Artist

My works do not reference to anything reality-based values, they refer only themselves. I use flowing lines and deliberate, controlled strokes to construct a world of the id. Living is a form of euphoria; The moments leaving and returning to consciousness stir up a wave of forms, billowing with all of life’s power and intoxication.