Belgian Falun Gong practitioner

(Clearwisdom.net) In August, the Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance International Art Exhibition arrives in the city of Ghent, known for its rich history and culture. This is the third time that the exhibition has been held in Belgium. The exhibition hall "Hof van Ryhove", situated in the town centre, was built in the middle of the 12^th century. From the 13^th century to the 16^th century, it belonged to important merchants and politicians in Ghent, and is now one of the three biggest exhibition venues for art in the city.

Ghent TV station AVS sent a reporter to the hall on the first day to cover the event. Moreover, news about the exhibition was broadcasted on the same evening to people around the country, with the segment used every half an hour until midday the next day. Many people came to visit the exhibition after seeing the message on TV.

A practitioner introducing a painting to the audience

A corner of the art exhibition

The Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance International Art Exhibition was opened officially on Friday August 4^th, exhibiting nearly 40 pieces of paintings by Falun Gong practitioners. The exhibition will last for a month, opening from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Thursday and Friday afternoon and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Saturday.

Many important politicians wrote letters to express their regret of not being able to attend the inaugural ceremony of the art exhibition because they were on holiday away from the city. Minister of Culture Bert Anciaux expressed in his letter that he hoped that the exhibition would be a huge success and that it would attract more public attention.

The President of the Ghent City Tourism Centre attended the opening ceremony. After listening to the explanations and viewing the paintings, he said that these pieces were moving and transcendent. He said he hasn't seen such good art for a very long time. Afterwards he took lots of Falun Gong flyers and promotional posters, saying that he would help with promoting the exhibition and recommend it to tourists who come to him for consultation.

Many visitors were moved by the masterful skill and inner meanings depicted in the paintings, and at the same time they were shocked at the fact that in the world today the Chinese Communist Party's genocidal persecution against Falun Gong practitioners is still going on. Many people did not understand why these people who live peaceful lives and who strive to improve themselves by cultivating the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are being so brutally suppressed by the CCP.

An audience member looks at the painting intently

People took Falun Dafa materials one by one, condemning the CCP's violence against Falun Gong practitioners. A gentleman in his thirties went to the tour guide after taking a good look around the exhibition and said that he was a painter. He said that the high standard of the paintings really amazed him and he particularly praised the painting "A Tragedy in China", saying that this piece can compete with the masterpieces of Rembrandt -- the most famous Belgian artist. Some other art enthusiasts suggested that this be submitted to the Louvre.After seeing the painting "Coming for You," an older lady said she was very glad to see Falun Gong practitioners standing up to express their beliefs. She said that if she was younger, she would go to Tiananmen Square to appeal as well, just like those practitioners. She had tears in her eyes and expressed her gratitude to us for sharing those paintings with her.

One of the coordinators of this art exhibition, Mr. Matthias Slaats, talked about how in the process of preparing for the exhibition, he and other Falun Gong practitioners who were voluntary helpers, were profoundly moved time after time by the profound inner meanings portrayed in these works.

Posting date: 8/18/2006
Original article date: 8/18/2006
Category: Falun Dafa Worldwide
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2006/8/14/135492.html

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