(Minghui.org) Italian Consul Federico Ventre Ferro was deeply moved after viewing the Art of Zhen-Shan-Ren (Truth-Compassion-Forbearance) exhibition and explained, “I learned about Falun Dafa in India. Though the paintings describe startling scenes, it is necessary to exhibit them all over the world. It is very meaningful to have the exhibition in the city of Iquito to let people understand the cruel persecution experienced by practitioners.”

The Art of Zhen-Shan-Ren (Truth-Compassion-Forbearance) International Exhibition was held for the first time at the Amazon Museum (Museo Amazónico) in Iquito, a city in northern Peru, from November 12 - 26, 2021. 

Mr. Federico Ventre Ferro, the principal of an art school in the city, and other dignitaries participated in the opening ceremony. After viewing the art exhibition, local residents said that this was the first time they learned about Falun Dafa and the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 22-year-long persecution of practitioners in China.

A practitioner explains the stories behind the paintings. 

At the opening ceremony on the evening of November 12, Yara Pandura, the principal of Victor Morey School of Fine Arts, Italian Consul Ferro, architect Rafael Donayre Pinedo, and others cut the ribbon and gave speeches.

Architect Rafael Donayre Pinedo especially emphasized that the art exhibition conveys the message of peace and justice. He said, “Art exhibitions like the Falun Dafa Association’s one are important because they express the feelings of tens of thousands of people who are persecuted and whose human rights are violated. The exhibition conveys the message of peace and justice. It is necessary in this era.”

Artists Martha and Rosa in the exhibition

Artists Martha and Rosa are painters. Rosa said, “This exhibition is exciting. The connotation, colors and actions of these paintings convey the theme of the exhibition of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance. I thank the organizer for bringing us this rare exhibition.”

Lawyer Gilberto Núñez stands next to the painting that impressed him most.

Lawyer Gilberto Núñez said the paintings clearly outlined the misery of the Chinese people under the CCP’s control. He said he hopes that this scourge that has caused great harm to the world will end as soon as possible. He wished the exhibition success and congratulated the organizers.

Another lawyer, Jarvey Flores, said that these paintings illustrate the chilling scenes of how the dictatorship violates human rights. The exhibition made him reflect and guided him to be more kind to his colleagues.

Several radio and TV media outlets in Iquito, including Radio la Voz de la Selva, Radio 10, Cable Canal Iquitos, Selva TV channel 33, Diario La Región, and Diario Loreto 21, covered the opening ceremony. 

A reporter (middle) from Radio la Voz de la Selva interviews practitioners.Newspaper Diario La Región reported on the art exhibition. 

Background: What Is Falun Dafa?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings—which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance—and learned the five exercises have experienced improved health and well-being.

Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, issued an order to ban the practice.

Under Jiang’s personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 22 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. More have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.

There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply the organ transplant industry.