The Dublin Arts Council will debut "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance," an exhibit of traditional Chinese paintings by artist Zhang Cuiying today.

Media Credit: Dublin Arts Council

Zhang Cuiying's depiction of the goddess Magu is part of her exhibition

Media Credit: Dublin Arts Council

Zhang Cuiying's piece entitled "Before Winter Sets In."

Her paintings borrow from the traditional ties between painting, poetry, and calligraphy in China, a style established in the 7th to 14th centuries.

Zhang's work shows examples of figure, landscape and bird-and-flower paintings, the three main categories of traditional Chinese painting

Much of Zhang's work is inspired by ancient Chinese poems and the 'cultivation of energy' promoted by Falun Gong, a self-improvement system for mind, body and spirit, which she has been an enthusiast of since 1997.

"After suffering in prison, I had a better understanding of the power of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance," Zhang said. "It was these principles that helped me survive in prison. I kept it in my head."

Zhang was introduced to exercises and meditations as a way to treat the severe rheumatoid arthritis she had been suffering from since 1996. She credits Falun Gong for her complete recovery and has been promoting its healing capabilities all over the world.

"Her paintings express the idea of self-cultivation and inner beauty that is promoted through Falun Gong," said Lucia Dunn, spokeswoman for the Dublin Arts Council.

Dr. Qing Lui, spokeswoman for the Ohio Center for East-West Cultural Exchange, said Zhang's struggles are what make the exhibit special. The OCEWCE sponsors the exhibit.

"I think this exhibition is not only about her paintings ... a lot of it is about her, her encouragement," Lui said. "I will consider this exhibition not only about the value of art, but the value of humanity."

The practice of Falun Gong was once passed on only from master to student. It was introduced to the general Chinese public in 1992 by Hongzhi Li.

Falun Gong has no religious writings and its exercises and meditations can be practiced as frequently or infrequently as practitioners desire.

Falun Gong was banned by Chinese [leader] Jiang Zemin in 1999. At the time it was practiced by nearly 70 million Chinese people.

Zhang, an Australian citizen, continued to practice Falun Gong in protest against the ban and was eventually arrested and jailed for being an outspoken practitioner.

During the eight months in which she was jailed, Zhang was tortured and humiliated for her belief in Falun Gong.

"My experience really taught me that one could be a better person even after sacrificing so much," Zhang said.

Other prisoners were encouraged to beat her, being told by guards that if they did so, their own sentence would be reduced.

In spite of this, she helped her fellow inmates by voluntarily taking on extra work, cleaning the shared toilets and even giving up her own blanket on a cold night so that a sick prisoner could have two.

"Everyday, I did twice the amount of rationed labor, so that kind-hearted people would recognize that Falun Gong practitioners were good and considerate," Zhang wrote in an essay describing her experience.

Aided by the Australian government, Zhang was finally released and has since dedicated herself to fighting human rights violations in China.

The opening reception of Zhang's work begins at 5 p.m. in the Eleanor A. Gelpi gallery at the Dublin Arts Council, 7125 Riverside Dr., with remarks by the artist starting at 6 p.m. The exhibit will continue through Friday.

For more information, contact the Dublin Arts Council at 889-7444.

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