(Minghui.org) Figanières, a small town in southern France, is a peaceful paradise located at the confluence of historic vineyards and the Verdon River. On July 13, 2024, the city hosted a week-long Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance International Art Exhibition at the Notre-Dame-de-l’Olivier, a 12th-century historic church in Figanières.
On the evening of July 13, 2024, the city’s mayor, deputy mayor, and city activity director, along with residents from the city and surrounding areas attended the opening ceremony. Mayor Bernard Chilini delivered an opening address at the ceremony, praising the exhibit’s paintings for their expressiveness and beauty. He also thanked the organisers for bringing the art exhibition to Figanières.
“It’s a Wonderful Exhibition!”
In her introductory speech, Suzanne, a Falun Gong practitioner and organiser of the art exhibition, highlighted the roots of the Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance art exhibition, introduced the audience to Falun Gong, and described the persecution faced by practitioners in China for the past 25 years.
In an interview after the opening ceremony Mayor Bernard Chilini said, “These carefully drawn paintings not only depict the CCP’s brutal persecution (of Falun Gong), but also speak of hope and those who have given a helping hand.”
Mayor Bernard Chilini also gave a speech at the ceremony. “I am not shocked or surprised. Because unfortunately, in some countries, this is the norm. Those who try to express themselves are tortured, imprisoned in concentration camps, and even killed. We must face the truth, and this is what the exhibition wants to convey.
“We must understand this fact. In Western countries everything is transparent, yet in others everything is covered up. But these people, whether children, adults, or the elderly, are being persecuted.” Mayor Chilini said, “This persecution is horrific. It is shocking to know it continues to exist in the 21st century. It is unacceptable for organs to be removed and trafficked in this way. It’s good the exhibition is here, since I was not previously aware of the persecution’s severity.
“Many of the paintings are beautiful and convey deep emotions. The artists have carefully painted images that not only depict the cruelty of the CCP, but also that of hope and those who have reached out to aid them. Family is also a common theme throughout. Because of the persecution, children have lost their parents, wives have lost their husbands, and daughters have lost their fathers. There is a profound expression of loss.”
He emphasised, “We must not give up hope. Compared to those who must live under such circumstances, we are lucky to live in a country where freedom has been ingrained as the norm. We deeply understand the value of freedom, but it is difficult for us to fully empathise with their circumstances, because our limited imagination can never compare to their reality.”
Paintings Which Appeal to God for Divine Justice
Prêtre Julian Ilwicki, rector of the Notre Dame de l’Olive Church, said, “The persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China is an extremely serious crime. Practitioners have an unyielding belief in their spiritual practice, and the exhibition exposes the injustice they have suffered. This is undoubtedly a call to God for divine justice.
“Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are universal values. No matter how they are called, the God we believe in is all of them. We venerate Him and practice these values in real life,” said Patriarch Ilvich.
An Exhibition That Touches One’s Heart
Pamela, a former dance teacher and nursing aide, is now president of a Figanières family association. Despite having no knowledge of Falun Gong before, she was deeply touched by the exhibits. “What they (Falun Gong practitioners) have experienced is shocking. If this had happened to me, I’m not sure I would have survived. I hardly dare think about it because the idea is too heavy for me. But I think the paintings are very beautiful and what they wish to convey is clear. The emotions and gestures of those portrayed are so vivid and beautiful.”
Regarding the persecution in China, Pamela said, “This is unbelievable and inhumane, I cannot understand how one person can inflict such suffering on another.”
People Need to Know the Truth
Eric Escaillas, the head of the Figanières City Activities, Local Community Association, and Community Forest Fire Prevention Committee, praised the exhibition as an exciting and wonderful experience for the community.
Eric Escaillas believes that the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are essential human values that should be widely shared. Through this exhibition, he said he feels that people can gain deeper understandings of the suffering endured by Falun Gong practitioners, and greater awareness of the atrocities yet unknown to the public.
“It’s an awareness that has to be fostered. This awareness is important, and we really need to spread it so more people will know the truth.”
This Exhibition Exposes the CCP’s Acts of Violence
Alain Laugier is a journalist and director of the city’s communication, history and heritage, rural and cultural departments. He was shocked to learn of the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. “These paintings depict the shocking reality of violence. It’s amazing. I just learned something I can hardly believe is true (organ harvesting). Not only that, the fact that no one cares about this issue is truly unacceptable. I can’t imagine how horrific it is. It’s really terrible.”
He added, “I can’t believe that no international organisation, no government, no well-known person has stepped up to publicize this issue.”
To stop the persecution of Falun Gong, Laugier believes it is important to expose the persecution and impose sanctions on the perpetrators. Besides an international court, relevant institutions capable of dealing with this matter should also exist. Yet despite the many humanitarian organisations in this world, only a few people are working to bring attention to this issue. Additionally, Laugier was impressed by the profound message and spiritual gravity transmitted through the artworks.
Alain Berthe from northern France, lives with his daughter in Callas, a city near Figanières. An amateur painter with a keen interest in art exhibitions, Berthe decided to visit the Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Art Exhibition after seeing an advertisement.
“I was pleasantly surprised. The paintings are emotionally powerful, show high artistic quality, and convey profound messages. The artists have successfully conveyed their intent, through visual impact and via the energy imbued in each painting. When standing before each artwork, you can feel its spiritual importance, and of course, deep emotional pain. There is a deep suffering in each painting.
“The energy emitted from these paintings is real. That’s normal because the painters, and I believe there is more than one of them, clearly put their heart and soul into their works. As I said, there is pain in it, but the art also conveys a beautiful message of hope.
“Not only is it a way to share artistic beauty with others, but also a way for them to raise awareness. It’s a spectacular method for the artists to express themselves.”
Berthe was moved by the exhibition and deeply attracted to the artworks. He said, “The Chinese Communist regime and those who oppose Falun Gong have no means to retaliate in light of the method by which (Falun Gong practitioners) have chosen to reveal this persecution. They have no choice but to continue their path of destruction, but in any case, this will not change reality.”
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