  |
Introductory Note: From July the 15th to the 16th, 2004, an art exhibition sponsored by the Falun Dafa Association of Washington, D.C. with the theme of "Uncompromising Courage," was held in the exhibition hall of Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. Falun Gong practitioners created all the art works in the exhibits. Some of the artists are still illegally imprisoned in China. After five years of bloody suppression, these Falun Gong artists hope to express the joy of returning to one’s true nature through cultivating Falun Gong, their indestructible righteous beliefs under cruel tortures and suppression, their persistence in pursuing Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and their faith in “justice will defeat evil eventually.” These artists each have their merits. They have tried to use the traditional methods to achieve their goals. We will continue to introduce the works of these artists, the ideas behind their works and their creation processes.
Reporter: Could you briefly describe your past experience in oil painting?
Kathy: Well, my training is rather random. I did some commercial art work. Then I had children, and during their nap times I worked on a correspondence course. Later I did a Visual Arts degree at the University of Ottawa, but at that time they were teaching conceptual art and abstract expressionism.
Reporter: I guess you loved to paint when you were young ?
Kathy: Oh, yes. I was determined to be an artist when I was just 12 years old.
Reporter: Do you recall any incident that caused you to decide to do it?
Kathy: I recall that when I was in the little town that I grew up in I was not very pleased with what I was seeing. One day my uncle took me to a gallery in Montreal, which opened up a whole world before my eyes.
Reporter: When did you start to practice Falun Dafa?
Kathy: In 1998. I saw a booth at University of Ottawa. The exercises appealed to me. The Falun Gong practitioner's energy and clarity attracted me. At that time I felt I needed to do some exercises as my body was growing old.
Reporter: How did the cultivation affect your physical and mental health?
Kathy: In terms of mental health, my mind became clearer. In terms of physical health, it was remarkable. I only have half a thyroid gland, and I should be on medication for the rest of my life. Soon after I started to cultivate the thyroid levels went up and I did not need any medication, which should not be possible.
Reporter: I saw a few of your paintings at the exhibition, one is titled “Uncompromising Courage”. Could you give the background about this one? How did you get the idea and inspiration to do this painting?
  |
Kathy: I saw an image on the Internet of a Falun Gong practitioner in China who was tied to a chair and I was really moved by that practitioner. It resonated with me. I had also recently seen a sculpture in which a Christian was looking into the sky. This struck me, and the two images fused together to form that one image. The practitioner that I asked to sit for a few photographs for me had himself been beaten in China. He had been arrested in China, and had also been beaten at the Chinese embassy here. They even pointed out that they could do whatever they liked inside the embassy as it is considered Chinese soil.
Reporter: What was the biggest difficulty that you ran into when you did this painting?
Kathy: The biggest difficulty was, well, normally I would have left the painting when it was half way through, but for this kind of painting, when you think you are finished, you are just starting. First of all, the images at the bottom, I had no idea where those images would come from, but once I started to work on that area I had no trouble finding the images that I needed when I looked around me. (I am referring to the figures that seem to be coming up through the floor). Then, as to the figure itself, I wanted to represent him in all of his humanity and all of his strength. Then the hand, the hand was a wonderful thing to do. When you look at the hand you will see the hand is based on a circle and the lines formed by the joints of his fingers radiate out like Law Wheels. I tried to make the hand compassionate. The setting in the background is underground, cave-like.
Reporter: I heard that this painting was based on the story of Liu Chengjun, the practitioner who broadcast a video containing the true facts about Falun Gong on Chinese government TV?
Kathy: Yes, it was his photograph that moved me. The one where he was sitting in a chair.
* * *
You are welcome to print and circulate all articles published on Clearharmony and their content, but please quote the source.
more ...