Indonesia: "Uncompromising Courage" Art Exhibit Causes a Sensation at the Book Fair

From September 29th to October 3rd of 2004, the 2004 Indonesia Book Fair sponsored by the Indonesian Book Publishers Association was held at the Jakarta Hilton Convention Centre. The Chairman of the Indonesian Book Publishers Association hosted the opening ceremony. The theme of the book fair was "Books and Children." There were 120 participating organisations distribtuted at exhibition halls A and B.

"Uncompromising Courage" Art Exhibit

The Indonesian Falun Dafa Association participated in the book fair. Besides holding a exhibition of Falun Dafa books, Falun Gong practitioners also held an "Uncompromising Courage" Art Exhibition, receiving warm response from the audience.

The Falun Dafa book exhibition was held in hall A whilst the "Uncompromising Courage" Art Exhibition was held in hall B. The two halls were adjacent. After viewing the Falun Dafa book exhibition booth and watching the Falun Gong exercise introduction and teaching video and practitioners demonstrate the exercises, many people wanted to learn the exercises and asked practitioners to teach them right there and then.

The Falun Dafa book exhibition

The "Uncompromising Courage" Art Exhibition attracted a lot of attention. They were deeply touched by the paintings that depict the contrast between good and evil in the brutal persecution of Falun Gong initiated by former Chinese President Jiang Zemin and his group. The paintings tell people that when the persecution against the principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance" occurs, in order to uphold truth and justice, Falun Dafa practitioners have been facing the persecution with uncompromising courage, and replying to hatred, torture and even murder with their great compassion and tolerance.

A visitor said he liked the painting entitled "Homeless." The child's pure and innocent face makes her so adorable. A key is hanging in front of her chest, but she can't enter her home, because it has been sealed up. Her parents who practice Falun Gong were arrested, and she can now only stand outside with tears running down her face. Another painting depicts a young mother who is reading a book and her daughter who is asleep in her lap. Both the mother and daughter look so peaceful. It warms your heart upon seeing it. He really wanted to buy these paintings. The paintings are so touching that he wanted to learn more about Falun Gong and read the main Falun Gong book Zhuan Falun.

The "Uncompromising Courage" Art Exhibition achieved an unexpected effect during the five day book fair and has played an important role in explaining the facts about Falun Gong and exposing the persecution. According to the sponsor of the book fair, the number of visitors approximated that of 150,000, with more coming on the weekends.

Visitors who came to view the art exhibition said that as soon as they entered the gate there eyes were drawn to the art exhibition, been the sole exhibition among stacks of books. They found it to be very unique. Some said that after viewing the first painting, they wanted to learn more. It seemed that the paintings were almost magnetic. Some one said that it was quite easy to understand the paintings. But after viewing them, he was shocked, and was reluctant to carry on viewing. Are such inhumane things still happening? We are living at a civilised century, how can such brutality still exist?

Upon seeing a Falun Gong practitioner in the painting being hung up, sustaining injuries with blood stains all over her body and also on the floor from the attacks inflicted by the dog's, and then seeing Ms. Chen Zixiu in thin and torn clothes walking across a snowy field, her frostbitten and swollen feet being shackled with several officers behind her. One can see that although Ms. Chen is suffering from such torture, she is still so peaceful, holding her head high and a shining ring above her head. Several female visitors wanted to cry, and some could not help shouting out, saying that they could not bear to see any more.

After viewing the paintings a Chinese person learned what Falun Gong is and why Falun Gong is being suppressed in China. His initial unfriendly attitude changed as he came to understand that Falun Gong has been persecuted by Jiang Zemn and his clique out of his own political interests. He sincerely said that he did not understand Falun Gong, and what he had learned until then had all been negative. After viewing these paintings, he believed that the suppression of Falun Gong is unreasonable. He decided to practice the exercises, and wanted to read the book Zhuan Falun. A book that can improve the moral standards of more than 100 million people. He wouldn't give up such a hard-won opportunity.

A famous martial arts star, after viewing the paintings, asked what Falun Gong is and why people practicing Falun Gong are subjected to such brutal torture? Falun Gong practitioners explained to him that Falun Gong is a cultivation practice of both mind and body, and can rapidly upgrade unceasingly declining moral standards. Falun Gong follows the principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." The martial arts star said he was attracted by the teachings of Falun Gong, and he would definitely find the book (Zhuan Falun) to read.