Media advisory 27 November 2007
For immediate release
International ‘Truth Compassion Forbearance’ Art Exhibition
The ‘Truth Compassion Forbearance’ Art Exhibition is scheduled to show at Shed 11 in Wellington from Saturday 1 to
Wednesday 5 December, 2007. This international exhibition is a journey through the soul of Falun Dafa (aka Falun Gong),
aiming to educate, inspire, open new doors of thought and refresh the minds of our divine sides.
This fine art exhibit aims at guiding the human spirit towards its eternal True Self. The numerous oil paintings
represent humankind’s compassionate and enduring spirit... even amidst unjust suffering and inhumane torture.
The works in this exhibit were created by a diverse group of accomplished artists from Australia, Canada, America,
Japan, and Taiwan.
The artists in this exhibit depict a vision of the world and the greater spiritual community where people seek to embody
the virtues of Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance.
These works poetically suggest the beauty of a life lived in keeping with a Higher Order, while depicting, in turn, the
grim realities of being persecuted at the hands of China’s communist regime.
Amidst the heart-wrenching inhumanity of torture and violence; where freedom, dignity, and goodness seem surely
eclipsed; we see ordinary people becoming extraordinary.
For here, in the darkest of quarters, the power of principled beliefs shines forth and empowers the meek with a breadth
of mind and stamina far greater than the ordeals forced upon them.
Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance is infused here in the very marrow of the wounded, making victor of victim. The message
we see displayed in the paintings is one of infinite hope and triumph.
Falun Gong is a spiritual practice founded by Mr. Li Hongzhi in China in 1992, with the number of people now practicing
well over 100 million worldwide.
For eight years now, the Chinese communist regime has sought to “eradicate” Falun Gong, treating this spiritual group as
their primary enemy. For eight years now, they have viewed people’s personal efforts to achieve true happiness and
enlightenment as the greatest threat to Communist order. For eight years now, the police have continually arrested,
tortured, and murdered these innocent people.
Some of the works in this exhibit reveal the cruelty of the oppressors, as well as practitioners’ virtuous endeavours to
hold onto their faith and beliefs, and eventually find freedom.
Falun Gong practitioners have resisted the persecution and fought for the basic human rights of all their countrymen
without a single instance of violence or hatred on their part.
Because of their benevolent beliefs, practitioners of Falun Gong are not fighting evil with evil, rather, they are using
beauty, honesty, and rationale to expose this unjust persecution.
These are some statements made from people who viewed previous showings:
“I found it deeply moving, yet disturbing that this is going on in our day and age. We must work together to stop this.”
-- Amy Millano, Queenstown
“It’s profound and very moving. The paintings are explicit and poignant and are deep expressions of beauty and truth. I
had no idea; you only read about these sorts of things.
It’s a matter of reality, really. When it’s put right in front of you and you see that these disturbing things are
happening to people, it really hits home […] I told many people, about it. It’s a real tragedy to think that people
could be persecuted for believing in truth and compassion.”
-- Kate Watson, Queenstown artist
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The ‘Truth Compassion Forbearance’ Art Exhibition is showing in Wellington:
VENUE: Shed 11, Queens Wharf, Customhouse Quay
DATES: Saturday 1 - Wednesday 5 December, 2007
TIMES: Saturday 12pm – 5:30pm · Sunday 10am – 5:30pm
Monday to Wednesday 10am – 7:30pm
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The exhibit is composed of four parts:
Part I: The Beauty of Self-Cultivation
Part II: Uncompromising Courage
Part III: The Call for Justice
Part IV: Justice Prevails
ends