(Clearwisdom.net) From June 1 to 15, 2005, Minnesota Falun Gong practitioners held "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" Art Exhibition at the state Capitol in St. Paul for two weeks. The exhibition attracted numerous state assemblymen, staff members and visitors. People who viewed the exhibition were all shocked at the Chinese communist regime's viciousness and expressed their indignation. Many people learned the truth about Falun Gong.

Art exhibition opening ceremony

Playing music for the art exhibition

A western practitioner who has practiced Falun Gong for less than a year drove more than two hours from Rochester with her mother who is engaged in artistic work to attend the opening ceremony and view the exhibition. She said that she liked practitioners' artwork very much and shared her feelings about the skills used in the paintings.

Upon learning what Falun Gong is all about and why the practice encounters persecution in China, an aged couple spent a long period of time carefully viewing each painting. They signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution. When the elderly lady was about to leave, she asked, "If you go back to China, are you going to be persecuted?" A practitioner answered, "We miss our homeland very much, but we cannot go back at this point, because the persecution is still going on and we will be persecuted if we go back." The lady sighed and patting the practitioner's shoulder said, "They (the Chinese communist regime) are really bad!"

People attentively viewing the paintings

People attentively viewing the paintings

A Korean lady who works for the government came to view the paintings during her break. She'd never heard about Falun Gong before. After learning about the situation, she asked for all kinds of materials that practitioners had prepared. She also carefully viewed each art work. When she looked at the paintings entitled, "Smoke and Ash," Tiger Bench, "Torture of a Woman," and "Force Feeding," she said, "I could not imagine that such things are happening in China today. These are even several times crueler than Hitler's torture methods. It seems that Hitler could only stand aside." She said she would read all the materials and visit Falun Gong's websites later.

A father brought his two daughters to view the exhibition. He said that these paintings were really good. He liked every one of them, especially the one entitled, "Pure Lotus". He said he would very much like to have this painting.

When a four-year-old young practitioner neatly folded all materials and handed them to an assemblywoman, the assemblywoman was very pleased and showed it to other assemblymen. Thus, other assemblymen also took the initiative to ask the young practitioner for materials. They also carefully read the documents. When that assemblywoman was about to go home, the practitioners met her again outside the building. She stopped her car and came out to say "Thank you" to the practitioners.

Another staff member in the building said, "Your paintings are truly wonderful! I've read your materials and I'm very interested in the practice." He asked for the practitioners' contact information.

Over the past six years, Falun gong practitioners' peaceful and rational efforts to oppose the persecution have won recognition and acknowledgment from the world's people. Truth-clarifying activities have gained more and more support and are warmly received. Many people are touched by the practitioners' uncompromising courage.

(Editor's Note: The paintings that comprise the "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" Art Exhibition can be viewed here: www.falunart.org )