Belgium: Truthfulness Compassion Forbearance International Art Exhibition Held in the Famous Historic City of Gent

In August, The Truthfulness Compassion Forbearance International Art Exhibition arrived in the famous ancient, historical and cultural city of Gent. This is the third time the exhibition has been held in Belgium. The exhibition hall “Hof van Ryhove”, situated in the town centre, was built in the middle of the 12th century. From the 13th century to the 16th century it belonged to important merchants and politicians in Gent, and is now one of the three biggest exhibition venues for art in the city.

The Truthfulness Compassion Forbearance International Art Exhibition was opened officially on Friday the 4th of August, exhibiting nearly forty paintings by Falun Gong practitioners. The exhibition will last for a month, opening from 2pm to 8pm every Thursday and Friday afternoon and 10am to 6pm every Saturday.

Many important politicians wrote letters to express their regret at not being able to attend the inaugural ceremony of the art exhibition because they were on holiday. Bert Anciaux, the Minister of Culture expressed in his letter that he hoped the Truthfulness Compassion Forbearance International Art Exhibition would be a huge success and furthermore this unique exhibition would attract more public attention.

The President of the Gent City Tourism Centre attended the opening ceremony. After listening to the explanations and carefully appreciating the paintings, he said that these paintings are emotionally touching miracles which hold divine messages. He said he hasn’t seen such good art for a very long time. Afterwards he took lots of Falun Gong flyers and promotional posters, saying that he would help with promotions and recommend the exhibition to tourists who have come to him for consultation. Gent city’s own TV station RVS came to the exhibition hall especially to report on the first day. Moreover news about the exhibition was broadcast on the same evening to people around the country, and the message was repeated continuously every half an hour until midday the next day. Many people came to visit the exhibition after seeing the message on TV.

The majority of visitors were emotionally moved by the masterful skills and thoughtful meanings depicted in the paintings and at the same time shocked at the fact that in the world today the Chinese Communist Party’s genocidal persecution against Falun Gong practitioner is still going on. Many people did not understand why these people who live peaceful lives and who strive to improve themselves by cultivating the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance are being so brutally suppressed by the CCP.

People took Falun Dafa materials one by one, condemning the CCP violence against the Falun Gong community who are only following the principles of Truth, Benevolence and Tolerance. A gentleman went to the tour guide after taking a good look around the exhibition and said that he himself was a painter. He said that the high standard of the paintings really amazed him and he particularly praised the painting “A Tragedy in China”, saying that this piece can compete with the masterpieces of Rembrandt the most famous Belgian artist. Some people who took an interest in art appreciated this painting a lot as well, some hoped to see it put on display in the Louvre gallery in Paris. After seeing the painting “Coming for You”, an elderly lady said she was very glad to see Falun Gong practitioners standing out to express their own beliefs. She said that if she was young, she would go to Tiananmen Square to appeal as well, just like those practitioners. Upon hearing that so many people still believe in God and the principles of fair retribution, a lady was very touched. She had tears in her eyes and expressed her gratitude many times.

One of the coordinators of this art exhibition Mr. Matthias Slaats talked about how in the process of preparing for the exhibition, he and other Falun Gong practitioners who were voluntary helpers, were profoundly moved time after time by the profuse meanings portrayed in these works. That feeling cannot be expressed through speech.