(Minghui.org) The Art of Zhen Shan Ren (Truth, Compassion, Tolerance) International Art Exhibition returns to São Paulo, this time on display in Shopping Ibirapuera–the largest and most traditional shopping center in Brazil–on February 21 to March 14, 2015.

According to Gilberto Luiz Maia, vice-president of the Falun Dafa Association in Brazil, this busy location will attract the largest number of visitors the exhibition has seen in the country, with an estimated circulation of two million people.

A representative of the Falun Dafa Association delivers the opening speech at the Art of Zhen Shan Ren (Truth, Compassion, Tolerance) International Art Exhibition..

Visitors examine the Art of Zhen Shan Ren exhibition in São Paulo.

For a large portion of visitors, this was their first contact with the persecution of Falun Dafa by the Chinese communist regime. Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is an ancient Chinese spiritual discipline based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

Many of the visitors were amazed by the artworks' artistic quality, and at the same time, shocked by the brutality of the persecution depicted in the images.

"I found [the exhibition] very nice because it displays the reality that exists today in the world that we do not know," said Leonardo, a 21-year-old office assistant.

Leonardo found that such persecution is the result of "ignorance of the human being," and intolerance of other beliefs.

He said that people may have various complaints about their own country's policies, but, “When we look at this reality, we see that there are many people who can do much worse things to his own people," he said, referring to China's totalitarian regime.

"The exhibition is also very wonderful because of the reality that the artworks bring up. The paintings themselves allow you to see the pain in people. Even the person who is committing the crime, he is also suffering from adverse reactions," observed Leonardo.

Leonardo and other visitors view the painting “Organ Crimes” by Xiqiang Dong.

A young boy points at the painting “Why?” by Weixing Wang.

Lucélia, a 38-year-old safety technician, said, "Knowing that people are tortured for their beliefs makes you wonder." She said that if all people respected religions and freedom of belief, the world today would be a much better place in which to live.

Ricardo Portela, one of Shopping Ibirapuera's exhibition organizers, explained their motivation for bringing the exhibition to the shopping center. "What caught most of our attention was this cultural feature, this curiosity that we had about knowing Falun Dafa and all the suffering that they [Falun Dafa practitioners] are going through," he said.

The Art of Zhen, Shan, Ren International Exhibition has visited more than 50 countries since production of the artworks began in 2004. The exhibition currently contains 75 works categorized into seven themes, according to its website.

The exhibition has been displayed in 15 locations in Brazil since 2011, including universities, museums, and art galleries.