By Sharon Kilarski

Apr 06, 2005

CRUEL TORTURES: Ms. Xiao Ping's painting "Cruel Tortures" (The Epoch Times)

CRUEL TORTURES: Ms. Xiao Ping's painting "Cruel Tortures" (The Epoch Times)

Usually, when an exhibit is labeled "daring," viewers expect to see highly avant-garde art, which has the effect of tearing through status quo morality and beliefs. Yet the "Uncompromising Courage" art exhibition in Chicago this week (after touring Sydney, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Montreal, Toronto, New York, Seattle, and Washington DC) is composed of realistic paintings in balanced compositions, that are, well... beautiful.

Yet the exhibition is certainly shocking to our sense of what is right and wrong.

The exhibition features paintings that reveal the torture of good people who have committed no crime other than their possessing an ardent desire to be good; it depicts China's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

Falun Gong is a nonviolent, apolitical spiritual practice that is known for its meditation and slow-motion exercises. According to faluninfo.net, the practice highlights the mind-body connection, and its practitioners strive to achieve balance and harmony in their daily lives.

Falun Gong was banned in China because the government did a survey and found out 70-100 million people were practicing, which was more than registered members of the Chinese Communist Party, said Gail Rachlin, Falun Gong spokesperson.

The artists say the practice's teachings and meditation has brought clarity to their minds and their artistic works, which show a departure from abstractionism and impressionism and return to realism.

Four of the thirteen artists personally experienced torture and beating at the hands of Chinese authorities.

Audience reaction to the touring exhibition has ranged from earthy to the sublime. Ms. Wang, a New York resident, notes its importance in current times. "After all, the persecution of Falun Gong is another form of terrorism; it is state-sponsored terrorism. The refusal of Falun Gong practitioners in China to give into the terror that they face is something we can look to for courage in our own lives as we face threats from terrorists." One Texas viewer who looked at every piece of art, noted the power of the pieces and said he could feel a peaceful energy coming from them.

Chicagoans can hope to be inspired by "Uncompromising Courage" and for their bruised sensibilities to be somewhat mended- for this exhibition reinforces what we already hold to be dear- that goodness triumphs over evil.

Source: http://english.epochtimes.com/news/5-4-6/27653.html

Posting date: 4/9/2005
Original article date: 4/9/2005
Category: News & Media Reports

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