Art and research are compatible
According to Professor Cheng, both academic research and artistic creation require overall observation and control, as well as a thorough comprehension of the key subjects. The similarities between academic research and a piece of art are, he explains, creativity and individuality. That is why Professor Cheng often encourages his students to pursue their studies with confidence and boldness. To him, the road to acquiring knowledge sets no boundary. Achievements are made when there is determination to explore a subject in depth. Yet, of course, one of the prerequisites for successful research is whether it constitutes a unique contribution to the community and the academic world.

"What I am after," he says, "is the interaction between the heart and the mind whether I am painting, researching or lecturing. This is not a process of unilateral direction. Therefore you will find my feelings in each and every piece of my landscape paintings, reflective of my moods. The purpose of academic research is to go to the roots of the issue under study and find out how education research and ideas of academic development can be linked. Research is also about in-depth thinking and mental perception, resulting in creative analyses. When I face my students during a lecture, I am also seeking an interaction and inter-connection with their minds and their hearts. That is what brings out the "life" of a piece of painting, a work of research or a lecture. It is also what enlightens one's heart and inspires one's intellect".