Ireland: "Truthfulness Compassion Forbearance" International Art Exhibition in Dublin Warmly Welcomed

The "Truthfulness Compassion Forbearance" International Art Exhibition was successfully held in the Tallaght Institute of Technology in south Dublin between the 5th and 9th of December 2005.

The deputy mayor of South Dublin County Karen Warren and Councillor John Hannon attended the opening ceremony. Councillor John Hannon made an excellent speech. He started to know about Falun Gong two years ago during the campaign to rescue Falun Gong practitioners Liu Feng and Yang Fang who were arrested in China when they went back from their study break in Ireland. Councillor John Hannon initiated a motion in South Dublin council demanding the Chinese Government to immediately release Liu Feng and Yang Fang. The council successfully passed the motion. Falun Gong practitioner Eileen Brown thanked the Tallaght Institute of Technology for providing the facility. She also thanked Mr Tim O’Connor, Mr Paul Columbus and other staff in the copy centre.

The art exhibition was held in the entrance hall to the college. During the week long exhibition, many students, teachers and other college staff showed great interest in viewing the artworks. There were even people from the remote Irish midlands who specifically came to see the exhibition.

John Hannon said that he was very pleased to open the "Truthfulness Compassion Forbearance" International Art Exhibition. He explained: “Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance are a very good guidance in life. It is very unfortunate that the Chinese government don’t think this way and they have used the whole nation’s resources to persecute these practitioners. This exhibition seeks to deliver some messages: the persecution, the courage of those suffering the persecution, human nature and hope. These artworks are themselves so beautiful. But the more significant part is the truth these artworks try to express.” He continued: “I firmly believe that freedom will be victorious. When the dawn of that day comes, people in China would be able to freely practise Falun Gong, as they do in other places around the world.”

At around 4:00pm on the opening day, Deputy Prime Minister Mary Harney came to visit the college. She passed through the exhibition hall. Eileen Brown gave the deputy Prime Minister a paper lotus flower with good wishes. A reporter from NTDTV interviewed her. Deputy Prime Minister Mary Harney said that Ireland would continue to be concerned with the Human Rights problems in China.

A college director asked Ms. Eileen Brown: “How did you manage to get this exhibition hall? This is the first in our college’s history.”

A young lady couldn’t help controlling her tears after seeing the paintings about the persecution. This lady talked to practitioners for a long time. She could not believe that at this modern society, such brutal persecution still exists. She just finished her art course and came to see the exhibition. Practitioner gave her a beautiful paper lotus flower when she left. She took with her leaflets about Falun Gong for all her classmates.

Many students viewed every artwork and its explanation with great care.

A lady from the midlands of Ireland specifically came to see the exhibition. She has practised Falun Gong for eight months by herself. Practitioners attending the exhibition were very surprised that she is a new practitioner. She wanted to view all the artworks (because of the limitation of the exhibition hall, only part of artworks were exhibited).

Many people enquired if they could buy these artworks.

A security guard told Falun Gong practitioners. One day it was very quiet inside the building. It was very early so there was only him and a lady cleaner there. He said that whichever direction he looked at the artwork “Buddha Status”, Buddha’s head would turn to him looking at him. He was very surprised and so he called the cleaner over. This lady found the same situation. They felt that this exhibition was very extraordinary and the music was so beautiful, making people very calm and comfortable.

The local newspaper The Echo sent its reporter to interview Ms. Eileen Brown and published the interview on Thursday. The article outlined the purpose and meaning of this exhibition and informed its readers about the change in Eileen Brown’s health after she practised Falun Gong.

During the exhibition, practitioners made many paper lotus flowers. These beautiful lotus flowers were deeply liked by students and teachers. The beauty and compassion of Falun Gong would remain in South Dublin.