Greece: The Art of Zhen Shan Ren International Exhibition Held in an Island Resort Town

The Art of Zhen Shan Ren International Exhibition was held in Edipsos, a famous Greek spa resort town, from August 25 to 27, 2022. Many local residents and tourists who viewed the paintings condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

Edipsos is located in the north of Evia, the second largest Greek island. The mineral-rich thermal spring water has therapeutic effects and is famous in Greece. In ancient Greek mythology, Hercules bathed in these waters after a battle to rejuvenate himself. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle was said to have attempted to unlock the secrets of the therapeutic power of the springs.

The local municipal government learned about Falun Gong and the CCP’s persecution in China. The Edipsos municipal government unanimously approved practitioners’ application for the art exhibition and then provided tents, lights, and a flag to show municipal support.

The works in the exhibition were produced by a group of accomplished artists from different backgrounds. Each artist is a Falun Gong practitioner who follows the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in their daily lives.

A Greek couple who saw the paintings told a practitioner that they knew about the persecution of house church Christians in China. The practitioner told them that was only the tip of the iceberg of the CCP’s persecution of people with spiritual beliefs.

Although the CCP censors information to cover up its crimes, the Minghui website has confirmed the deaths of more than 4,800 Falun Gong practitioners from police brutality. The CCP also authorizes the harvesting of organs from living practitioners for lucrative profits.

Painter: Let Me Know When You Hold the Next Exhibition
George, who was on vacation from Athens, visited the exhibition and then invited his painter friend Efi to view the paintings with him. Efi looked at each of the works carefully and wrote in the guestbook: “They are so beautiful. The artistic level of these works is unbelievable.”

Painter Efi

Efi handed her business card to a Falun Gong practitioner, saying, “If there is an art exhibition in Athens next time, be sure to inform me. I will bring many friends to see it.”

A painter named Georgios said: “There are very few people who paint so realistically now, because with cameras and computers, there are many ways to create art.”

“The message conveyed in the paintings is powerful and touches my heart,” a painter from Romania said with tears in her eyes. “It’s amazing how you spread information about the persecution. I hope more people visit the exhibition.”

A Viewer: Keep Up Your Efforts
“I saw it yesterday. It’s a very good exhibition,” Penny told a practitioner. “Keep up your efforts because this [the CCP persecuting Falun Gong practitioners] is the worst thing. I never knew that there were such terrible things [happening] in China.”

Penny writing a comment to encourage practitioners

Penny congratulated the practitioners on the success of the exhibition and wished them all the best.

“Thank You for the Message”
Kleoniki had planned to leave four days earlier but had to stay a few extra days due to car problems. When she and her children saw the exhibition she said, “There must be a reason I stayed in Edipsos.” A practitioner said, “It seems that visiting the exhibition was your destiny.”

Kleoniki and her children hold paper-folded lotus flowers.

Thalia listened to a practitioner explain the works and then wrote in the guest book: “The exhibition is very good! Thank you for your appeal and the information you have passed on to us. I am on your side.”

Thalia listens to a practitioner explain a painting.

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 organization 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.