Interview with Professor Zhang Kunlun Featured in the Art Exhibit “Uncompromising Courage”

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.

Detail of Oil Painting “Lotus Light” by Chen Xiaoping (51 in. X 51 in.)

Reporter: Zhu Qingming, reporter for PureInsight Net
Zhang: Professor Zhang Kunlun, painter and sculptor

Reporter: Professor Zhang, you are one of the organisers of this exhibit. Could you please tell us a little more about it?

Zhang: Falun Gong practitioners who are also artists have produced all the pieces exhibited here. Some of these are very accomplished artists. The subject matter of these works all relate to Falun Dafa.

There are two reasons for the exhibit. First, throughout their entire lives, these artists had searched for a pure and unblemished way to express themselves through their art but couldn’t find it. All the different schools of art in today’s society have been influenced by all kinds of notions and have hidden the artists’ pure, true selves. They were only able to recover their pure mindsets through Falun Gong practice. After they purified their minds, they have been able to free themselves of the influence of innumerable notions and found their true identities. Only then were they able to express the sides of themselves that are naturally good and kind. These pieces of artwork depict the wonders they’ve experienced in their cultivation and portray the experiences that they or other practitioners have endured during the vicious persecution of Falun Gong. At the same time, these works also show the steadfast spirit of Dafa practitioners in staying steadfast to their belief in "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance", as well as heavenly scenes depicted according to Falun Gong practitioners understandings gained from the practice of Falun Gong.

Professor Zhang Kunlun in front of one of the paintings featured in the exhibition

The exhibit is divided into four topics: harmony, adversity, courage, and justice. The persecution is groundless and unacceptable. Those who practise Falun Gong have displayed immense moral courage during the persecution. The final part of the exhibit portrays how the evil forces will be tried in the court of public opinion and heavenly principles; that is bound to happen. Everyone is positioning himself. That is why Falun Dafa practitioners have been doing their utmost to inform people about Falun Gong and the situation in China. They are doing it not for themselves but for all living beings. Of course, that is a concept I can’t explain in just a few words.

Reporter: I believe those who see the exhibit will be quite affected by it. I’ve noticed that those who viewed this exhibit came from all over the world, and the exhibition has deeply touched them. Many of them have said that they want to help Falun Dafa practitioners to end the persecution as soon as possible. This exhibition is of tremendous significance.