Article from Bulgarian Newspaper: Chinese Block Artist's Show

FOR ART’S SAKE: The representatives of Zhang Cuiying in front of Parliament after Cuiying’s exhibition was prevented from opening after alleged intervention by the Chinese embassy.

THE opening of an exhibition by Australian artist Zhang Cuiying at the Bulgarian Parliament was stopped by an officer of the Chinese embassy, a spokesperson for the artist told a news conference.

Inner Beauty And Peace was the title of the exhibition that had been scheduled to open in Parliament last Wednesday. Almost 40 traditional Chinese paintings were to adorn the walls of the MPs Club.

Zhang Cuiying was invited to exhibit her work by National Movement Simeon II MP Snezhina Chipeva, after Chipeva met the artist at the European Parliament in February this year.

She sent her paintings and her representatives started arranging them in the MPs Club. After everything had been arranged, an officer of the Chinese embassy arrived and asked Parliament's administration to stop the exhibition. The pictures were removed, and the representatives were told that the exhibition had been postponed because the artist had not come in person.

Zhang Cuiying practices Falun Dafa, a traditional Chinese teaching of spiritual and physical perfection, vehemently opposed by the Beijing government.

Her representatives said that she had no plans to come to Bulgaria because she was preparing her case against the former state of head of China, but after the exhibition was postponed she had decided she wanted to come to the country. Meanwhile, her representatives have been looking for an alternative venue for the exhibition.

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Cuiying, a suffragette known around the world, started the creative road of her life at the age of 10, in her native Shanghai. There she was taught the main principles of the traditional Chinese art, which involves using "Chi" (which means vital energy) while slowly and gently touching the canvas with the brush. Moreover, Chinese art insists every painting must reflect the soul of the artist, meaning the latter should have a high level of morality. This has been an important influence in Zhang's works and life.

In 1996, after she had won several awards, her life took a turn when she got arthritis. Inability to work made her life unbearable.

Then, along with her husband, she became familiar with the ancient Eastern practice involving the elaboration of the human body and soul, called Falun Dafa (or Falun Gong) preaching Truth, Goodness and Endurance. It seemed like a miracle when, after a short while of practicing Falun Dafa, Zhang's illness passed, and she began painting again.

In 1999, because of Falun Dafa's huge popularity and the presence of almost 100 million people practicing it (much more than the members of the Communist Party), it was proclaimed illegal in China. Thousands of people were arrested, and sent to jail, labour camps, and psychiatric clinics. Seeing the persecution of her compatriots, Zhang returned to China to tell her fellows about her experience and the benefits of practicing Falun Dafa. The reaction of the Chinese government was to jail her for eight months, and during her incarceration she was subjected to torture and insults.

She was saved from the brutality of Chinese labour camps after pressure from the international community.

The innovative and internationally acclaimed traditional Chinese painter has held exhibitions in more than 20 countries and 60 cities all over the world, with the desire to show her sufferings to the whole world. Many artists, and human rights associations, all around the world have voiced appreciation for her paintings and infinite courage.

Cuiying has laid the groundwork for a damages claim against former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin. World famous lawyer Sir Jeffrey Robertson has given an undertaking to help in the lawsuit at the UN. The lawsuit aims to expose human rights abuses by senior government officials.

"I will continue setting up exhibitions all over the world with the hope that the visitors reading the history of my torment and seeing the inner beauty expressed in my paintings would clearly feel The Truth, The Goodness and The Endurance of Falun Dafa," she said.