Italy: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance International Art Exhibition Touches the Citizens of Torino

By an Italian Falun Dafa practitioner

(Clearwisdom.net) The Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance International Art Exhibition was successfully concluded in Torino, Italy. The nine-day art exhibition was organized by the Italian Falun Dafa Association, attracting many viewers and generating a great deal of interest in Falun Gong.

The works displayed in the Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance International Art Exhibition were the creation of a group of outstanding artists of different backgrounds. Through practicing Falun Dafa, these artists have obtained physical health and spiritual elevation. They have integrated their personal understanding and experiences into their artistic works through traditional painting techniques to express brightness, purity and the supreme compassion that art should have. Through their art, the artists showcase their aspiration to achieve the wonderful realm of unity of Heaven and Man. Also through the medium of art, the artists have depicted the brutal persecution endured by Falun Gong practitioners in China over the past eight years, and manifested the noble and uncompromising spirit of these practitioners who believe in "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." The artists hope to help more people learn about Falun Gong, who will become concerned about and help put an end to the persecution as soon as possible.

The art exhibition was co-sponsored by the Torino City government and the provincial government. The exhibition hall was provided by the city government. The building in which the hall is located used to be a monastery constructed in 1692, which currently belongs to the Torino city government. There are offices upstairs and the ground floor serves as an exhibition hall. The building is situated in the center of the city and is opposite a busy pedestrian street with a lot of shops and many people.

The opening ceremony on May 26 was attended by many distinguished guests. Among the guests, Mr. Bruno Mellano, member of the Italian Parliament from the Transnational Radical Party, Mr. Giampiero Leo, member of the Piedmont Regional Council, Mr. Claudio Tecchio, chairman of the CISL (Confederazione Italiana Sindacati dei Lavoratori, or Confederation of Italian Workers' Trade Unions) and Mr. Piero Verni, journalist, gave remarks to condemn the Chinese Communist regime's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and to express their appreciation for the Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Art Exhibition. They felt that the exhibition could help the people of Torino further understand the value of life. The winner of the 1996 Sakharov Prize, Mr. Wei Jingsheng and Ms. Huang Tzuping also attended the opening ceremony and gave remarks. In addition to attending the opening ceremony, Italian coordinator of the LRF (Laogai Research Foundation) Mr. Toni Brandi also volunteered to interpret for visitors from Spain and the U.S. Among the visitors was a Lama from Tibet, Palden Gyatso, who had been imprisoned by the Chinese Communist regime for more than three decades.

After the opening ceremony, many visitors came to the exhibition over the following nine days. As several city government offices are located upstairs, many citizens took advantage of the opportunity to visit the exhibition during office hours. Several volunteer workers responsible for the management of a neighboring church, as well as church visitors and parishioners also visited the art exhibition.

Many of the paintings on exhibit depicted the persecution against Falun Gong, and many of the visitors were shocked upon learning of the extent of the persecution in China. After seeing the exhibition, the visitors were purified spiritually and their spiritual level was elevated. The speaker of the provincial parliament said that this exhibition reminded him of Jesus and Socrates, who insisted on their truths regardless of suppression by the authorities. Their non-violent resistance only served to spotlight the perpetrators' cruelty and shamefulness.

After visiting the exhibition, many residents of Torino asked why the Chinese Communist regime treated kindhearted people like that, and wondered whether it is because the regime is so afraid of Dafa practitioners' great courage and compassion.

The following are some of the reflections and words of support that visitors jotted down in the signature book:

"The art exhibition empowered me to enter my inner world and to be my true self. I am thankful for having this moment to help me discover Heaven on earth."

"It is amazing to learn that people are persecuted because of their belief or for their seeking after goodness."

"Wonderful! It is amazing to see these people's magnificence and their noble inner grace while they are suffering such a huge tribulation."

"The art exhibition is really very touching. I hope that the light of the universe is able to illuminate the hearts of the perpetrators, and have their souls return to righteousness."

"The light deep in my heart has been illuminated."

"It is indeed very touching and inspiring. The art exhibition can help people intensify their beliefs."

"What an appalling reality! I hope that the consciences of those evil ones can be awakened."

During the exhibition, many people wanted to know more about Falun Gong and learn the exercises. Some Chinese people also visited the art exhibition and declared their withdrawal from the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations.

Italian version at http://it.clearharmony.net/articles/200706/5474.html

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2007/6/10/156653.html

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