September 17, 2003

SUPPORTERS of the Falun Gong, and curious passersby, witnessed a one-day exhibition of serene Chinese paintings at the Parramatta Town Hall last week.

The traditional paintings by Bankstown artist Zhang Cuiying were shown in support of the Falun Gong a practice [based on Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance] that is outlawed in China.

Cuiying said her paintings were inspired by the Falun Gong qualities of compassion, forbearance and truthfulness and the contrasts between benevolence and evil, beauty and ugliness.

Cuiying became a participant in the Falun Gong in 1996.

In 1999, the Chinese Government launched a severe crackdown on Falun Gong, imprisoning hundreds of practitioners.

Cuiying said she returned to China in 2000 in a campaign to change the government's mind on the Falun Gong, but was imprisoned for eight months.

Now, Cuiying has visited more than 40 cities in more than 20 countries to speak against the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners through her painting exhibitions.