The presentation included classical realist paintings done by Falun Dafa practitioners: artists who have suffered persecution in China for their beliefs, artists who have worked with those who endured the violence, and artists who wish to share the beauty and harmony of the practice.
Twenty high-quality reproductions of the paintings were exhibited at the school’s library for several days.
The paintings depict four main themes: Falun Dafa practitioners’ response to their adversity, their courage in challenging the threat to their belief, the harmony they discover, and the demand for justice for the perpetrators of the atrocities.
Students attending the event came from history and social science classes at Duarte High School.
Upon seeing the Truth, Compassion and Tolerance International Art Exhibit at the University of San Diego, a Duarte teacher invited both USD doctoral student Cyrus Parsa and a practitioner who had endured torture, to host the exhibit at the school. The exhibit introduces the high school students to both the art and the persecution of Falun Dafa under China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Students also had an opportunity to learn Falun Gong exercises from a practitioner attending the presentation.
One student, Madison, reacted to the persecution and torture that Falun Dafa practitioners face: “I was very surprised. It’s crazy how horrific these events are. Usually when you hear stories such as this, you’d think of events like that happening years and years ago. I was shocked that events like this still occur in China every day.”
Another student, Anissa, focused on one of the paintings titled “Immovable.” She was impressed how it depicted the power a person could have while being tortured. “It explained the strength the Chinese [Falun Dafa practitioners] have and the spiritual power they possess. … No matter how much the policeman tried to break her spirit, she was still able to find peace and tranquility.”
Jeanette, among others, noted the plight of Falun Dafa practitioners’ children. “It hurt me the most that children were also experiencing it [persecution].”
Two of the paintings depict children traumatized by the persecution, a situation that is all too common. “Homeless” shows a child returning home from school only to find the front door locked and sealed by the police who had taken the child’s parents into custody while the child was at school. The neighbors will not help the child out of fear the police will implicate them for supporting Falun Dafa.
The painting “Why” shows a situation where a child was taken with his mother and imprisoned in the same cell—and witnessed her torture.
One student attracted to communist ideology came to find out that it isn’t really “Heaven on Earth,” as claimed by communists. “The presentation hurt my soul,” he said. “I was moved so much that I took off my Chairman Mao patch … that has been so controversial on my Boy Scout uniform.”
What Is Falun Dafa?
Mr. Li taught the practice by giving a series of lectures across China for the next few years, and by 1999, the practice had grown from a handful of people to between 70 million and 100 million, according to an official report at the time.
Paranoid over the practice’s widespread popularity, then-leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Jiang Zemin used his power to persuade the CCP to purge the popular practice.
On July 20, 1999, the regime officially began the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners. Since then, practitioners have faced not only brutal torture, even to the point of death, but also vicious propaganda campaigns and the loss of jobs, education, savings, and possessions.
Public Awareness
Despite a growing body of literature by reputable academics, international human rights organizations, and many governments, many media organizations have not reported on the extent of the ongoing persecution.
Almost every student’s response included references to this lack of public awareness. “I haven’t heard anything about this before,” was a common response.
Karina said and others echoed: “Before yesterday, I had no idea what was going on in China. The media hasn’t said anything.”
Regarding a call for action to stop the persecution, Jessica said, “I would really like to know why no other government has bothered to step in. … Everyone talks about not replaying what Hitler did, yet they’re [the Chinese regime] doing something just like it.”
Karina said, “I’m glad it was brought my attention because now we have the chance to spread the word and do something about it. No more lives should be lost.”
Deann summarized the feelings of many who attended: “The government in China is horrible for killing people for their own personal beliefs. This makes me thankful for our freedom in the United States.”
