(Minghui.org) The Art of Zhen Shan Ren (Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance) International Exhibition was held at Inala Art Gallery in Brisbane between September 3 and 17. Over 30 artworks created by Falun Dafa practitioners were displayed. Many attendees said they were deeply moved by the pure energy and practitioners’ perseverance despite the brutal suppression.
“The artists, through their brushstrokes, depicted the beauty of Falun Dafa and the courage of those who have endured the brutal persecution in China,” wrote Michael Berkman, a member of Queensland Legislative Assembly, “The artworks also reveal the brutality and inhumanity of the persecution that has lasted for 23 years.”
Order of Australia Recipient Condemns Organ Harvesting
Dr. Cuong Bui, member of the Order of Australia and President of the Vietnamese Community in Australia’s Queensland Chapter, said he is familiar with the brutality brought about by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
He previously met with Canadian human rights lawyer David Matas and former Canadian Secretary of State (Asia Pacific) David Kilgour. Together with American journalist Ethan Gutman, they published reports that exposed the CCP’s crime of forced organ harvesting.
In May 2022, the European Parliament also passed a resolution condemning forced organ harvesting in China.
“[The] the heavy reliance on executed and living prisoners as a source of transplant organs [in China] entails a wide range of unacceptable human rights and medical ethics violations,” wrote the resolution. Unfortunately, such an atrocity still continues.
The CCP’s crime has threatened basic rights of everyone, said Bui. Citing words from Spanish philosopher and essayist George Santayana, he said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Elected Officials: Courage and Perseverance
Charles Strunk, Councilor for Forest Lake Ward, said he did not know much about Falun Dafa in the past other than the ongoing suppression in China. That is why he was thankful for the art exhibition since through it, he learned much more.
These artworks showed the artists’ great talents, he said. There are a variety of themes, from happiness to other topics. He hopes more members of the community will come and learn like him. Mr. Strunk said he was fortunate to attend such an exhibition that toured around the world.
Michael Berkman, Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Maiwar, said the exhibition was held in over 900 cities across 50 countries and “has received the applause of visitors as well as art experts.”
“I join Falun Dafa practitioners in their call for an end to the violence and persecution of the Chinese regime,” he wrote in his greetings, “The Falun Gong community have shown incredible perseverance in their continued fight against persecution and it is a privilege to have this struggle expressed in such incredible artworks.”
Leanne Linard MP is also Minister for Children and Youth Justice and Minister for Multicultural Affairs. “Today’s opening ceremony, and indeed the full exhibition, is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Queensland’s diversity and gain a unique insight into the spiritual discipline of Falun Gong through visual art,” she wrote in her greetings, “I am sure that the artwork on display will be thought-provoking and will inspire people to learn more about Queensland’s multicultural and multi-faith society.”
Art Gallery Chairperson: A Touching Story without Words
Inala Art Gallery chairperson Lin Nguyen said she loves art and was really happy to host such a great event.
“The story behind these artworks are very touching,” she said. When everyone had left the day before, she stayed and reflected on art and the exhibition. She was moved and inspired by this story and history. Although there were no words, she could feel the message and was honored to be part of the exhibition.
Medical student Miley Duroux and her family happened to stop by. Impressed by the artwork, she listened to the explanations of each one. She said this is one of the best exhibitions she ever saw and she learned a lot. One of the paintings depicted an orphan girl and the artwork was especially touching.
Ms. Duroux noticed that although Falun Dafa practitioners were detained for their belief, they had no resentment. She was moved by the great compassion and she hopes more people will come and see it. She also hopes the CCP will soon collapse so that more people could freely practice their belief.
Many people left remarks on the guest book.
“The artworks are great and I am sorry to hear about the persecution,” one attendee wrote, “Hope the persecution will end soon.” “Every artwork is amazing and it is hard to imagine such a peaceful practice is suppressed in China,” another person wrote.“The spirit of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is truly wonderful,” another person wrote.
Background: What Is Falun Dafa and Why Is the CCP Persecuting It?
Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide.
Millions of people who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and have learned the five exercises, have experienced improved health and well-being.
Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, he issued an order to eradicate the practice.
Under Jiang’s personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organisation with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.
Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 23 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. Countless practitioners have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.
There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply China’s organ transplant industry.