United Kingdom: Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance International Art Exhibition held in Central London

From the 31st of May to the 3rd of June, the Truthfulness, Compassion Forbearance International Art Exhibition was successfully held in central London. The exhibition was displayed in a gallery opposite the British Museum, where tourists continuously pass. This special art exhibition is created by Falun Gong practitioner artists, many of whom have suffered vicious persecution first-hand in Chinese forced labour camps and prisons.

On the first day, as soon as the paintings were hung up and ready for the gallery to open, visitors started to arrive. During the exhibition, volunteer Falun Gong practitioners guided visitors round and explained the meaning and special story behind each picture. Visitors listened carefully and asked about Falun Gong and why it is being persecuted. They were shocked to hear about the terrible human rights abuses committed by the Chinese Communist Party and showed deep sympathy for Falun gong practitioners. Meanwhile they could not understand why the CCP persecutes a group of innocent people simply because of their belief, and could not believe such cruel methods of persecution are still used in our modern world.

Many visitors spent a long time viewing the pictures. One lady came to see the exhibition twice. She said the first time she came it was her lunch break and it was too much of a rush. So she came again after work to have a good look at the paintings. She said these pictures touched her heart deeply. One visitor showed great interest in Falun Gong and wanted to learn the exercises on the spot.

The art exhibition was very touching and had a strong appeal and effect. At the opening ceremony, John Dee, the vice chairman of European Friends of Falun Gong, an organisation of non-practitioners who support human rights and freedom of belief for Falun Gong in China, summed up the special appeal of the paintings: “These paintings are wonderful examples of beauty. The spiritual meaning in these works that the artists have painted reveals their inborn true natures, but they also portray the cruel persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the CCP and the universal principle that evil will be punished. They have been transformed from ordinary to extraordinary people by their steadfastness in the face of the evil persecution that many millions of practitioners have suffered and the results of their new-found wisdom are for all to see here today.”