(Clearwisdom.net) “In one word, Wow!” wrote one visitor in the guestbook for The Art of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance Exhibition in Modi'in, Israel. The guestbook was filled with personal experiences of residents of the city and surrounding regions, and many children, whose hearts were touched by the exhibition.
Students viewing The Art of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance Exhibition
The exhibition hall was located at the Modi'in Central Mall, where many people come to shop, enjoy a meal, or spend time. It was up for about a month and open to the general public during evening hours. Falun Dafa practitioners from around the country came to talk with visitors about the artworks, the practice of Falun Dafa, and the ongoing persecution in China. Sometimes explanations weren't necessary, since the paintings spoke for themselves and excited and moved the visitors.
During the first days of the exhibition, an article was published in the local newspaper The City of Mod'iin. The writer, Amali Shneweld, wrote about her impressions, “The terrible story of Falun Dafa practitioners is one of those rare stories where it is crystal clear who is good and who is evil; or, rather, who is good and who is the murderer.” Indeed, the paintings on the one hand, reflect the harsh conditions Falun Dafa practitioners in China are living under, and the atrocities and cruelty they are facing at the hands of the Chinese Communist regime, and on the other hand, express the beauty and strength of the human spirit– people not giving up their faith or belief in what is good and moral.
A 10-year-old visitor wrote, “This place really makes you feel that it is right to believe in what you believe. The paintings pass on a deep and important message.” There are quite a few children in Mod'iin, and many of them came to the exhibition at the mall. Some of the children were initially reluctant to view the graphic scenes in several of the paintings, but returned to visit several times after they learned the facts and could see the beauty those paintings represented. Some of them said that they felt very good when they were at the exhibition. An 11-year-old boy wrote in the guestbook, “It's great, interesting, and above all expectations. The paintings are beautiful, the explanations were really good, and the artists talented. It was very deep.” One day, a group of boys aged 9 or 10 approached the painting “Harmony” (in which the artist depicts a practitioner doing the meditation exercise) and immediately everyone sat down on the floor in the same position! Most of them stood up a few moments later, but one boy remained sitting for several minutes with his eyes closed, hands outstretched, at the center of the exhibition space.
During the exhibition, several groups of students from high schools in the city were invited for “gallery talks.” The students not only learned about Falun Dafa and the persecution in China, but they also learned about using color, light, and realistic painting techniques, as well as the symbols repeated in many paintings, such as the lotus flower and the ancient swastika. Some senior students had just returned from a visit to concentration camps in Poland, and learning about practitioners' efforts to resist the persecution in China really touched their hearts. After viewing the exhibition, the tenth grade students just sat without moving, unable to utter a word. One of the high school students studying art wrote, “The exhibition is amazing! The message should be spread around the world.” They later returned in the evenings with their families.
Each evening, visitors who learned about the persecution for the first time couldn't quite comprehend how such shocking things could be happening in the world today, and why there is silence on the subject. One visitor wrote, “It's difficult to grasp and understand the killing of innocent, spiritual people. Why fear people who want to be happy and free? ... I hope that some day things will change for the better and people will live in peace.”
The Art of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance Exhibition is an extraordinary opportunity to truly understand how brave and kindhearted Falun Dafa practitioners in China are. One person wrote, “Darkness cannot be changed by darkness, only by light. Hatred cannot be changed by hatred, only love. Beautiful pictures. May the energy of the universe keep [practitioners] strong.” Another visitor wrote similar words, “The exhibition is depressing and encouraging at the same time. There's a war between the Sons of Darkness and the Sons of Light, but in the end the Light will win. Everyone is a little light and all of us together are a strong Light.”
“The exhibition is an empowering experience and brings “Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance” to our daily lives. Thanks for stopping me for this moment,” wrote a visitor.
As a result of the exhibition, city residents have expressed interest in Falun Dafa and some came to learn the exercises and the practice. A city high school asked practitioners to come and teach the exercises to students. This is planned for next month.
Category: Parades & Other Community Events
