Ukraine: Great Media Interest in Dafa Practitioner’s Painting Exhibition

Between March 21 and 27 2003, Mrs. Zhang Cuiying’s painting exhibition was successfully held in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. Many spectators appreciated Mrs. Zhang’s outstanding traditional Chinese paintings and came to understand her experiences of practising Falun Gong. People remarked that they felt a field of harmony around the exhibition and that they hoped to see Zhang Cuiying and her paintings again next year. Many people expressed their deep respect for the painter. One of them said, “Thank you for coming to Ukraine. Your art works bring bliss to the spectators. Your paintings radiate love and warmth. May you enjoy happiness and health. We wish you a great future in your painting.”

At the painting exhibition there was a surprising but brief interlude. Two hours before the opening ceremony, two Chinese Embassy officials visited the person in charge of the exhibition venue. The venue patron then informed practitioners that the management had cancelled the exhibition and would give no further explanation.

The Falun Gong practitioners, the painter, the exhibition organisers, and the first group of spectators who came to see the paintings all waited for four hours on the street trying to figure out what was going on. Some media correspondents who came to report on the painting exhibition interviewed Zhang Cuiying on the street outside the venue.

The national Ukrainian news agency in Kiev held a press conference about this event on March 20 2003.

The press conference was held in a lively and friendly atmosphere. Practitioners told the conference attendees that the painting exhibition was cancelled because of pressure from the Chinese Consulate. They also mentioned that planned Falun Dafa photograph exhibitions in Kiev and Cherkasy were also cancelled because of the Chinese Consulate’s irrational intervention. The international community’s support for Falun Dafa was also discussed and created a stark contrast with the practitioners’ portrayal of the illegal persecution of Falun Gong happening in China. The painter introduced herself to the media and told them that she has received support and favourable reviews of her painting exhibitions in more than 30 countries.

After the press conference, many reporters expressed their interest in getting to know more about Falun Gong. Many TV stations featured several reports on the painting exhibition.