(Clearwisdom.net) On October 28, 2004, the "Uncompromising
Courage" Art Exhibition opened to public at the National Arts Club and will
remain there until November 8.
 
Some of the artists who contributed to the exhibition |
Aldon James, director of the National Arts Club, speaking at the opening
ceremony |
This art exhibition mainly presents western style paintings, yet it also
includes some sculptures and traditional Chinese paintings. Through their works,
the artists depict the great spirit of compassion and forbearance of
practitioners during the brutal persecution of Falun Gong, document the history
of this special period, and reproduce practitioners' "uncompromising
courage" in upholding their fundamental human rights and dignity.
Professor Zhang Kunlun and his work |
The exhibition hall |
Wei Jane Chir, one of the participating artists, said that the subjects of
all the works displayed in the exhibition come from real life--the ongoing
persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Thus, the content and
connotation of these art works is very profound and every piece of work is very
powerful.
"Four of us. including professor Zhang Kunlun, were personally
persecuted in China. Facing this unjust persecution, we artists use our personal
experience to express the beauty of Falun Dafa and the brutality of the
persecution. We hope that more people will come to help us end this persecution
after they learn the truth from this exhibition, " she said.
Selected art works displayed in the exhibition
There is a painting named "Why" which shows a small boy detained in
a cage. With both eyes wide open and confusion on his face, he doesn't show any
hatred, fear, or tears. His eyes are injured, his body is bloodstained, his
mother lies on the cold floor with both feet shackled. Ms. Wang Weixing, the
creator of this painting, said that it was about the son of her friend. The
little boy was detained with his mother for quite a while. As he often saw how
practitioners were tortured, as shown in the painting, he didn't have fear any
more. However, he couldn't understand why people cultivating the principles of
"Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" were tortured so severely.
More than 100 community leaders, artists and Falun Gong practitioners
attended the opening ceremony on the evening of October 28. Mr. Aldon James, the
director of the National Arts Club, said that someone called and threatened him
not to provide a venue for practitioners' exhibition and to cancel the
exhibition.
During the opening ceremony, Mr. James said: "We won't yield to any
pressure. We always respect and support freedom of expression, and I support
people's use of art, not violence, to express their opinions.
James believes that this exhibition is of high quality with a strong message,
and thus would attract many people.
The National Arts Club has a history of 156 years. Four U.S presidents,
including President Kennedy, were members of this club, and many art masters
have exhibited their masterpieces at the club.
