(Clearwisdom.net) The world tour of the Art of Truth, Compassion, Tolerance International Exhibition [http://falunart.org/], begun in 2004, has been shown in over 200 towns and about forty different countries. It was shown recently in the town of Saint Malo, Brittany for its fifth showing in France and for the first time in Saint Malo.
The town of Saint Malo, in breton Sant-Malou, is one of the most visited towns in Brittany, with a long history stretching back into the Middle Ages.
A Chinese couple living in Saint Malo, along with personnel from Sound of Hope radio, proposed the exhibition to the town's cultural services. They were offered both an exhibition space and the help of the technical services of the town of Paramé (a town affiliated with Saint Malo) for the exhibition, to be held from March 28 to April 3, 2011.
A poster outside the exhibition hall
of the Town Hall of Paramé.
Nearly sixty paintings were shown in the exhibition. These paintings were done by a group of fifteen artists who are practitioners of Falun Gong, most of them Chinese. Four of these painters, among many thousands of other Falun Gong practitioners, personally experienced the brutal persecution that has been taking place in China since 1999.
This group of paintings was assembled under the inspiration of the painter and sculptor Zhang Kunlun, well known in China but now living in exile in Canada. One of the objectives of the exhibition is to put an end to the inhuman oppression of the peaceful practice of Falun Gong in China. In their paintings the artists express their own understandings of life and of the universe and they also expose the atrocities committed in the persecution of the practice by the Chinese Communist Party.
Gabriel Foligné, deputy Mayor for cultural affairs presided at the opening ceremony on March 28, 2011. He was accompanied by Mr. Jean-Pierre Godard, responsible for cultural development of the town of Saint Malo, and Mr. Clément from the Maison des Associations, the organization instrumental in securing a space to hold the exhibition.
Gabriel Foligné, deputy Mayor for cultural affairs,
announces the opening of the exhibition
Mr. Foligné welcomed the exhibition and called attention to the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance inherent in the show. He also expressed support for the practitioners under persecution in China.
A representative from Sound of Hope introduced the exhibition: “People have sought to understand the mystery of life, man's place within the natural world and the meaning of human life. Traditional Chinese culture talks of harmony between man and nature, of the right moment and the right place. These artists have chosen to explore the meaning of life through their art. Their work glorifies the divine and grapples with the question of good and evil. Their creative effort isn't just something to please the eye. These painters are seeking for greater wisdom and truth.”
Jean-Pierre Godard, in charge of exhibitions at the Town Hall of Saint Malo, indicated that he thought the exhibition was of “great beauty” and went on to say, “It's true that at the same time there are moments of sheer innocent pleasure... it's very beautiful. And when you see the children crying, facing the difficulty of simply going on living in spite of everything, it's a whole experience. I think the people here are not used to seeing this type of painting and that they may well be profoundly moved.”
Jean-Pierre Godard, in charge of exhibitions at the town Hall of St Malo, found the exhibition to be of “great beauty”
Yannick Blandin, in charge of the “Radio Amateur” association whose goal is to safeguard all values in life, said that he felt peaceful as he visited the exhibition. “In the paintings, straight away you recognize wisdom, calmness, happiness; this is what I feel right now… it is very soothing, this painting is very meaningful,” said Mr. Blandin. “There is a painting where you see a child in its mother’s arms (‘Illumination,’ by Xiaoping Chen), you feel something calm, you feel that the child is in complete confidence and I find this wonderful. Just looking at this painting is very reassuring for the future,” he confided.
“Just looking at this painting is very reassuring for the future,” said Yannick Blandin, of the “Radio Amateur” association
A Ouest France journalist came to the exhibition and reported on the event. His article, published two days later, contributed to many more people from the area coming to the exhibition. The exhibition had also been announced several days before in Le Pays Malouin, the local newspaper.
Information about the Art of Truth, Compassion, Tolerance International Exhibition in the newspaper Ouest France
Throngs of visitors saw the paintings during the seven-day exhibition, the news of which was largely spread by word of mouth. At least one thousand visitors came. Many who came once, visited again with their children or grandchildren, their students, friends or family members, wishing to share the beauty and strength of this unusual exhibition.
The exhibition was very well attended, with increasing numbers of visitors each day.
One woman shared with the exhibit organizers about how her twelve-year-old son had seen the exhibition that morning on his way home from school and he cried as he told them how important it was to go see the exhibition. Several people mentioned the fact that it was something unusual that brought them to pass by the Paramé Town Hall, and they felt drawn to stop in and see the show. Other people quite simply shared recent spiritual experiences. Many people bought the books of the teachings of Falun Gong and several came to learn the exercises at the practice site on the beach the following Sunday morning.
It so happened that on the Sunday of the exhibition, the starting and finishing point for the selection of contestants for the Tour de France was held at Saint Malo, just next door to where the exhibition was being held. The announcer, who had come to see the exhibition, was so moved by it that once the sporting details had been given, he announced the exhibition over the loudspeakers. As a result, more people kept coming in, even after the show's normal closing time.
Among the comments left in the visitors' book was the following: “This exhibition will stay in my mind as long as I live.” It will probably stay in the memory of many locals who shared how moved they were by the paintings; “I’m 76 and my heart is aching,” wrote one visitor. Others thanked the organizers for this opportunity to learn about a “just cause” and the beauty of Falun Dafa. Many more called for an end to the persecution.
Original article in French: http://fr.clearharmony.net/articles/201104/55669.html
Category: Parades & Other Community Events
