Bulgaria: Visitors Moved by the Resilience and Spirituality in the Art of Zhen Shan Ren Exhibition in Ravadinovo Castle

(Minghui.org) The Art of Zhen-Shan-Ren (Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance) International Exhibition was held at Ravadinovo Castle near the ancient seaside town of Sozopol August 8-29, 2025.

The exhibition featured 29 paintings created by artists who practice Falun Dafa. The works depicted the beauty of the practice, the inner peace and harmony of practitioners, as well as the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution.

The Art of Zhen-Shan-Ren International Exhibition at Ravadinovo Castle near Sozopol August 8-29

Sozopol is one of the oldest towns on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. There is a legend that in 1366, after conquering Sozopol, Italian count Amadeus I began building a castle in the area. Today, it is not known exactly where the count laid the foundations of his castle and whether it was completed, but the legend spurred travelers’ fascination with castles in the area, including Ravadinovo Castle, which is nicknamed “In Love with the Wind.”

Ravadinovo Castle

The art was displayed in the castle’s largest throne room and fit well with the fairy-tale style of the surroundings. Visitors from Bulgaria and abroad came to view the exhibition, with many people expressing wonder at the beauty of its spiritual themes.

Visitors Appreciate the Practitioners’ Devotion to Faith

Minka and Tatiana view the paintings.

After Minka and Tatiana, friends from Karlovo, saw the paintings, they wanted details about the exhibition.

They recorded a practitioner telling them about Falun Dafa and said they would share the video with their friends in Karlovo. They said that the paintings made them realize: “When faith is in your heart, nothing and no one can take it away.”

Tsvetelin and his girlfriend

Tsvetelin and his girlfriend Pleven said the paintings showed them how cruelly and unjustly Falun Dafa practitioners are being treated by the Chinese regime but also how powerful spirituality is. They had their photo next to the painting “Coming for You,” because it impressed them so deeply.

“What these people have done is a powerful reflection of true humanity,” Tsvetelin said, referring to the scene depicted in the painting. “They showed courage in going to this square to do what their friends in China are doing, to want the world to hear and help, all while knowing what awaits them! This is a tremendous expression of humanity, even beyond the norm, just as, unfortunately, the violence you told us about is beyond human comprehension!”

A young couple view the paintings.

A young couple silently admired the paintings, reading the explanations for each canvas.

“We have never seen such an exhibition before; it radiates so much spirituality, it really lifts you up,” one of them said.

Touched by the Paintings

A family from Lovech look at the paintings.

A family from Lovech decided to celebrate their one-year-old daughter's birthday by visiting the castle. They were captivated by the paintings, the atmosphere they created, and the thoughts that the paintings provoked. They studied the different canvases with interest and attention. They asked if the exhibition could be held in their city and even offered suggestions to the practitioners about how this could be done.

They wrote in the guest book: “We are deeply impressed by the paintings and the stories behind them. Thank you for sharing your stories and inspiration!”

Five Young People from Ruse Inspired by the Paintings

Five students from Ruse

Five young men from Ruse, students in different disciplines and universities, entered the hall as part of a tour of the castle. They did not expect to see paintings and knew nothing about the themes depicted in them. They lingered the longest in front of the painting “Tears of Sorrow and Joy” and the paintings depicting karmic retribution.

They listened intently to a practitioner talk about how Falun Dafa practitioners are persecuted in China. The young men seemed interested in the practice and acknowledged that they had learned a lot.

Children Visit the Exhibition

Parents bring their children to view the paintings.

Many families with children came to see the exhibition. They all commented on and learned about what the paintings depicted.

Visitors Express Support

People admire the artwork.

In the guest book, many visitors expressed their support for the exhibition and for the practitioners in China who are being persecuted.

Russian-speaking visitors were delighted and fascinated to hear stories about the exhibition in Russian and to communicate in their preferred language.