United States: Uncompromising Courage" Art Exhibition Opens at the National Arts Club in Manhattan

On October 28th, 2004, the "Uncompromising Courage" Art Exhibition opened to the public at the National Arts Club and will remain there until November 8th.

Some of the artists who contributed to the exhibition	Aldon James, director of the National Arts Club, speaking at the opening ceremony

This art exhibition mainly presents western style paintings, yet it also includes some sculptures and traditional Chinese paintings. Through their works, the artists depict the great spirit of compassion and forbearance of practitioners during the brutal persecution of Falun Gong, document the history of this special period, and reproduce practitioners' "uncompromising courage" in upholding their fundamental human rights and dignity.

Professor Zhang Kunlun and his work	The exhibition hall

Wei Jane Chir, one of the participating artists, said that the subjects of all the works displayed in the exhibition come from real life--the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Thus, the content and connotation of these art works is very profound and every piece of work is very powerful.

"Four of us. including professor Zhang Kunlun, were personally persecuted in China. Facing this unjust persecution, we artists use our personal experience to express the beauty of Falun Dafa and the brutality of the persecution. We hope that more people will come to help us end this persecution after they learn the truth from this exhibition, " she said.

Selected art works displayed in the exhibition

There is a painting named "Why" which shows a small boy detained in a cage. With both eyes wide open and confusion on his face, he doesn't show any hatred, fear, or tears. His eyes are injured, his body is bloodstained, his mother lies on the cold floor with both feet shackled. Ms. Wang Weixing, the creator of this painting, said that it was about the son of her friend. The little boy was detained with his mother for quite a while. As he often saw how practitioners were tortured, as shown in the painting, he didn't have fear any more. However, he couldn't understand why people cultivating the principles of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" were tortured so severely.

More than 100 community leaders, artists and Falun Gong practitioners attended the opening ceremony on the evening of October 28. Mr. Aldon James, the director of the National Arts Club, said that someone called and threatened him not to provide a venue for practitioners' exhibition and to cancel the exhibition.

During the opening ceremony, Mr. James said: "We won't yield to any pressure. We always respect and support freedom of expression, and I support people's use of art, not violence, to express their opinions.

James believes that this exhibition is of high quality with a strong message, and thus would attract many people.

The National Arts Club has a history of 156 years. Four U.S presidents, including President Kennedy, were members of this club, and many art masters have exhibited their masterpieces at the club.