绘画对桂东来说更像书写一篇篇散文,或哲学反思、或浓浓诗意、或抒情畅怀;点点滴滴,入情入理。他的绘画作品，提出了自二十世纪早期以来中国艺术家一致面对的众多发人深思的问题。其中包括传统在中国当代艺术中的地位，东西方艺术实践的关系，以及今天从事创作的艺术家们的"现代性"的问题。
　　"图像"是当代架上绘画绕不开的话题，对图像的"解构"与"重构"是桂东绘画的常用手法，他在此中不断尝试，试图释放个性展现画面的独特性，使其更具当代意识。
　　To Hu, painting is more like writing an essay. Either self-reflection of philosophy or thick poetic spirit can be found in his works. His works also draw many public thoughts since the 20th century on multiple issues faced by many Chinese artists, including the status of Chinese traditions in modern art, the relations between east and west artistic practicing, and the "modernity" hold by many artists nowadays.
　　'Deconstruction' and 'reconstruction' are the skills often used by Hu. With continuous tries, his works displays the peculiarities of each objects with modern consciousness.

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　　对于架上绘画的理解是胡桂东对自我的剖析和重塑，在他的绘画中，你能看到东方韵味的山水和西方写实的描绘，在东西方文化的融合中寻找一种全新的表达方式。关于中国传统绘画中对于精神内在的刻画得以保留，在胡桂东笔下的上水云雾，带着浓重的中国烙印，使他的作品更能走进人心。对于画面细节的描写和象征的运用，将西方一种达意叙事的通透感展现在人们面前，画面的信息仿佛诗歌般优雅流畅。
　　胡桂东在景与物的对话中找到了一个新的世界，他将这个空间用绘画的方式展现在观者眼前。
　　From Hu's perspective, painting is a kind of self-analysis and self-reconstruction. Eastern style of landscapes and western style of realism are bounded in his works, which is a brand new way of painting. Revealing traditional Chinese spirit with strong Chinese characteristics, Hu's works impressed many in their own way.
　　Commentators say, his pursuit of beauty naturally calmed the young generation, who often live in anxiety in the fast world, as his work is, actually, the nature.