[Anna Varavva, NTD News Reporter Standup]: (female, Russian)
“The ‘Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance’ Art Exhibition has been presented in more than 35 countries. Last year residents of Kiev, Odessa, Dnepropetrovsk and Simferopol saw it. And now it has arrived in Vinnitsa.”
These works were painted by artists from around the world. They all practice Falun Dafa—also called Falun Gong.
[Alexandra Goncharenko, Art Exhibition Organizer]: (female, Russian)
"All the artists are professionals. All of them, at some point, learned about Falun Dafa—a system of self-cultivation based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance."
The exhibition has two parts.
One is about what’s called “cultivation”—the process of letting go of one’s ego and attachments, a key principle of Falun Dafa.
The other part is about persecution—the persecution that followers of this spiritual practice have endured for 10 years in communist China. Thousands have been killed or tortured.
[Tatiana Samorovoz, Art Teacher]: (Female, Ukrainian)
"How could such a good teaching be persecuted? Patience, kindness—such wonderful words—this is the motto of our time."
[Nikolai Gunko, Deputy Mayor of Vinnitsa]: (Male, Ukrainian)
"I think this exhibition should be seen by all the countries of the world to show what is happening [in China]. If it is kept under wraps, then we will see even worse themes for paintings."
The grief of people who lost their families in persecution is depicted on canvas: A mother hugs her dead son. A girl holds her parents’ ashes. And a young woman sits by her husband who died from torture.
But the exhibit also shows hope and faith. In the face of persecution, these people remain unshakeable in their belief.
[...]
NTD News, Vinnitsa, Ukraine.
