(Minghui.org) The “Art of Zhen-Shan-Ren International Exhibition” was held at the City Council of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from June 1 to 30, 2013, and was warmly received by local residents.

Zhen-Shan-Ren is Chinese for Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the core teaching of Falun Dafa.

The opening ceremony on June 2 in the Council Hall was attended by many councilors, legislators, board chairpersons and directors in the arts community. The exhibition received high praise for the profound content and unyielding spirit reflected in the exquisite artwork.

The timing coincided with a municipal authorities gathering to report their work performance, so many had the opportunity to see the exhibition.

A city bureau director acknowledged the high level of artistry of the exhibition and the courageous spirit of Falun Gong practitioners: “Falun Dafa is good. Falun Gong is extraordinary!”

Numerous other civic officials spoke at the opening ceremony, as highlighted below.

Opening ceremony, The Art of Zhen Shan Ren International Exhibition at Kaohsiung City Council

Exhibition receives congratulatory letters from board chairpersons, directors, politicians and local dignitaries

“Zhen Shan Ren, I've Come for You”

The month-long exhibition attracted many local residents and nearby community groups. They were deeply touched by the inner beauty of cultivators and were equally shocked by the persecution suffered by Falun Gong practitioners in China. Some teachers brought their classes to see the exhibition, using it as a spiritually beneficial art class. Some students wrote in the visitors' book: “Zhen Shan Ren, I've come for you.” A fine arts teacher said: “The Childrens' morality will elevate once they understand the principle “Good will be rewarded with good, and evil with evil.”

While organizers were setting up the exhibition, a large community song contest was also in full swing, and members of the cheering squad came to view the exhibition during the break. One man asked: “What's happening to the person in that painting?”, because he felt the young girl hung up under torture in the painting “Determination under Persecution” was always looking at him, as if she were trying to tell him about her suffering.

Many came to see the exhibition on Opening Day

Members of Fengshan Community Service show their approval of the exhibition

Former classmates (year 1970) of Taiwan Military Academy visit the exhibition together

Several classes of students benefiting from the exhibition

Kaohsiung City Council Speaker: “We Need to Hold the Exhibition Here to Know what is Happening on the Other Side of the Strait”

On the first day of the exhibition, the Kaohsiung City Council Speaker received a phone call from the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China, asking them to cancel the exhibition, but their request was rejected. The Speaker expressed: “The exhibition is held under invitation with the approval of the city councilors. This exhibition is unique. We need to hold the exhibition here to know what is happening on the other side of the strait.”

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fine Arts in Kaohsiung: “I was Deeply Moved by the spirit of Zhen Shan Ren in the Artwork

Mr. Wu Shengfa, Chairman, Board of Directors of the Fine Arts in Kaohsiung came to appreciate the paintings the day before the opening ceremony, and carefully looked at each piece of art. He was also one of the first to arrive on the opening day. Seeing so many guests, he gave up his seat and quietly stood on the side. He shared his feelings in an interview at the end of the ceremony: “I am deeply moved by the paintings. There are old men in their 80's beating waist drums, innocent and lovely seven or eight year-old children bringing hope to the audience. There is unyielding spirit in the face of autocratic power, and the spirit of Zhen Shan Ren is shown everywhere. All this has touched my heart deeply. This spirit is also what many artists are searching for, and I want to know where it comes from.”

Mr. Wu Shengfa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fine Arts in Kaohsiung

“I believe that art knows no national boundaries” said Mr. Wu. “The paintings of this exhibition offer mankind enormous strength to push orthodox arts forward. I hope that the people in Kaohsiung, the Mayor, legislators and councilors all come to see this exhibition and support Falun Gong.”

City Councilor: “It Inspires the Most Innocent Human Nature”

Kaohsiung City Councilor Ms. Chen Lina

Ms. Chen Lina, a long-serving city councilor said: “This artwork inspires the tendency towards goodness in human nature. This is the first time the council has invited such an exhibition. It shows that the council acknowledges the entire exhibition and the spirit it represents. It also shows that the council disagrees with the Chinese government.” Ms. Chen viewed the exhibition several times, and said: “Each time I see the exhibition, I remind myself to return to the most original and purest realm. Although I encounter situations at work which might make me feel a bit disheartened, when I see the exhibition paintings, I always remind myself to check my conduct.”

Council Secretary: “I Support You 100%”

Secretary Chen, also an accomplished artist, said: “I can understand that these are all true representations. They (paintings) are vivid and true to life. I support you 100% from my heart, and I hope that the Chinese Communist government stops the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Most persecutions take place behind doors and people don't normally get to know about them. Now, the artists have depicted the facts in a realistic manner, it really brings it home to people. It can directly wake up people's conscience.”

“In many of the paintings, the artists used the three-point perspective method with superb skills, so no matter which direction you observe, you feel the key figure in the painting is always looking at you. After I saw the painting “Determination under Persecution”, I even dreamed of it. I can never forget the image of the innocent girl under torture and the determined look in her eyes.”

Association of Boards of Directors of Arts Chairperson: “True Talent in Realistic Painting Similar to the Renaissance Period”

Lan Huang Yufeng, Chairperson, Association of Boards of Directors of Arts of Kaohsiung

Lan Huang Yufeng, Chairperson of the Association of Boards of Directors of Arts of Kaohsiung, which represents over 1000 art groups said: “The Zhen Shan Ren Art Exhibition not only demonstrates true talent in realistic painting similar to the Renascence period with exquisite technical precision, but most importantly, the artistic content enables people to learn the facts about the severity and cruelty of the persecution of Falun Gong. While people are sighing about the emptiness of the contemporary art forms that prevail today, this exhibition demonstrates its full strength in classical fine art. I praise these artists. While they promote the grace of “Falun Dafa”, they also promote the restoration of the beauty of Chinese traditional culture. It makes people feel so good, as if we were back to the purity, the kindness and the splendor of the old days.”

Dr. Li Chuncheng, Founding Chair of of the Association of Boards of Directors of Arts of Kaohsiung

Dr. Li Chuncheng, the highly esteemed Founding Chair of the Association of Boards of Directors of Arts of Kaohsiung, said: “The Zhen Shan Ren Art Exhibition demonstrates extremely high international standards. We can see in-depth cultural content and extremely high artistry in the paintings, as well as a deep insight into traditional Chinese culture. With the exhibition being held here in the City Council, it is most appropriate that all councilors say a few words to support Falun Gong.”

Mr. Gong Tianfa, Chairman of Board of Directors of Kaohsiung Fine Art Association said: “The Zhen Shan Ren Art Exhibition is unique in the sense that it not only gives an aesthetic feeling like other fine art exhibitions, but also provides impact on purifying the soul. I was particularly moved by the painting “The Call of Innocence”, in which a little girl braves the wind and rain to call for justice - very sincere and very pure. I can feel the principle of Zhen Shan Ren depicted by the artist through the painting.”

Artist from Germany: “The Exhibition Clarifies the Facts about Falun Gong through Art

Hong Xiumin, Artist trained in Germany

Hong Xiumin, an artist trained in Germany and fine arts teacher at the National Ping Tung Senior Industrial Vocational School, shared the first time she'd learned about Falun Gong in Germany when she was handed a flyer. The exhibition deepened her understanding about Falun Gong; she was moved and inspired by the strength that seemed to come deep from the soul. As for the exhibition itself, she said that the requirements were very high in terms of the application of color, composition and content. The art was quite vivid in detail and exquisite in style, with the weather-beaten lines in old people's faces, the soft and smooth skin of young women and the innocence of children all finely depicted.

She summarized, “For a long time, people seem to have forgotten the feelings that the realistic style of painting can bring. Most exhibits in art galleries nowadays show abstract and contemporary styles, without the kind of content connotation so deeply reflected through the depiction of figures and stories in these paintings. An exhibition like this clarifies the facts with real stories to people who do not have a clear understanding about Falun Gong and lets us know what is happening in mainland China; at the same time, it helps us to understand the spirit of Falun Gong practitioners.”

Fengshan Community Service Director: “If More People Practiced Cultivation, the World would be More Peaceful”

Fengshan Community Service members also visited the exhibition. Ms. You Xiuli, service director, said: “I am disturbed deep in my soul by the exhibition, and am affected by a number of paintings. I heard from TV reports that the Falun Gong practice is banned in mainland China, and wondered 'Is it that bad?' Today, I've learned that Falun Gong is in fact a very sacred cultivation group, truthful, compassionate and promotes kindness. Falun Gong can purify people's souls. Mainland China shouldn't persecute Falun Gong practitioners.”

Ms. You Xiuli, Director, Fengshan Community Service

She continued, “There are so many natural and man-made disasters these days. If there is a belief that can help pull us through the hard times and misfortunes, then we should promote it. I hope that more people will practice Falun Gong so that the world will become purer, healthier and kinder. If all the people around the world are nice and kind, then the world would be very safe. I hope that mainland China recognizes that Falun Gong is good and allows people the freedom of belief. This way, they may have a chance and space to save people from so many disasters that have happened there lately.”

“I believe that the power of belief is very strong, and cannot be suppressed like what's happening now in mainland China. People want to have a better life. I believe that people's eyes are discerning and they can make the best choices for themselves.”