(Clearwisdom.net) On August 8, 2008, the International Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance Art Exhibition opened in Lorranch, a border town in Southwest Germany. The German Falun Dafa Association arranged for the exhibition, which drew the attention of local residents, politicians and members of the media. Many people came to view the works.
Visitors listen to Falun Gong practitioners explain the art works on display.
The works were on display in an exhibition hall in Lorranch from August 8 to 18. The opening ceremony, held on August 8, had special meaning. On the day that the Chinese Communist regime hosted the opening ceremonies of the Olympics to show off its "prosperity", the International Truthfulness- Compassion-Tolerance Art Exhibition exposed the Chinese regime's atrocities of cruelly persecuting Falun Gong practitioners. In fact, there have been serious human right abuses committed in the name of the Olympics.
All of the 28 paintings on display were created by artists who are also Falun Gong practitioners. These paintings have been exhibited in over 100 cities in more than 40 countries around the world. Every painting portrays a true event in the lives of Falun Gong practitioners. The artists used their talents to vividly represent what has happened and what is happening in China.
When they saw these paintings that lay bare the Chinese Communist regime's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, many viewers were shocked by these cruel atrocities that are still widely happening across China today. Others were so indignant that they asked the practitioner offering explanations of the paintings, "How can such barbaric atrocities happen today? Why have politicians in democratic countries not voiced their condemnation of the persecution?"
Some shed tears after viewing the paintings portraying practitioners' great perseverance and steadfastness in following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance and facing the risk of losing their lives due to cruel torture. Many expressed their respect and support for Falun Gong. Some people stayed in the exhibition hall for a long while, staring at the paintings and in deep thought.
During the ten days of the exhibition, visitors carefully recorded dozens of touching reactions in the comments book. Many people signed a petition calling for an end to the persecution. Some visitors became very interested in Falun Gong, while others left messages such as: "I saw Falun Gong practitioners doing the exercises and meditation in a park before. The practitioners there were very peaceful and not like what the Chinese regime described in its propaganda. Every Falun Gong practitioner that explained the paintings for visitors at the exhibition appeared very kind and peaceful. Though the group has been suppressed by the Chinese regime for years, more people are becoming aware of Falun Gong and concerned about it. Though Falun Gong is an oriental cultivation practice, it has attracted so many people from different ethnic backgrounds to practice it. Falun Gong practitioners are even willing to risk their lives to defend their belief. It must have something magnificent and must be really great."
Many visitors came to the reception desk and asked for more information before leaving. They said that they would share the magnificence of Falun Gong and information about the persecution to their relatives and friends. Some of the visitors came with cameras. They said that they would show the photos of the paintings to their friends, so that more and more people would be able to help end the persecution.