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MP Bill Siksay, chair of PFOFG and host of the event. (Pam McLennan/The Epoch Times)
OTTAWA—Canadian Parliamentary Friends of Falun Gong (PFOFG) on Thursday sponsored an information session and art show in the West Block of Parliament.
The artworks in the “Truth-Compassion-Forbearance” exhibit were a sampling of a much larger show of paintings by Falun Gong practitioners that is touring internationally. Some of the works depict the spiritual discipline’s teachings while others show sombre details of the harsh treatment of jailed adherents in China.
Some of the artists had been harassed, jailed, and tortured in China before escaping to other countries.
“All the paintings are spectacular,” said MP Judy Sgro.
“All of them clearly show the suffering, the belief in another life, and the determination of a community to overcome all of the obstacles in the persecution that they continue to face… I hope all Canadians get a chance to see this spectacular exhibit of very, very serious work that’s giving a message about the ongoing persecution of the Falun Gong and how very unfair that is.”
MP Judy Sgro in front of 'Fulfilling Vows' by Vancouver artist Xioping Chen. (Pam McLennan/The Epoch Times)
Formed in late 2009 and the first of its kind in the world, PFOFG aims to support Falun Gong practitioners and inform Canadian parliamentarians about issues related to the practice, which was banned by the Chinese regime in 1999.
“What we were hoping today was to give members of Parliament, senators, and their staff an opportunity to learn more about the practice of Falun Gong,” said MP Bill Siksay, chair of PFOFG.
“When we formed the PFOFG a few months ago we thought there was some lack of familiarity with the practice and we thought it was a good occasion to have practitioners talk about the practice and to show some of the art as well.”
With Chinese leader Hu Jintao due to visit Ottawa on June 23 and 24 ahead of the G8 and G20 summits, the presentation was an opportunity to let Canadian government representatives know about the practice and the ongoing persecution, torture, harassment, and deaths of Falun Gong practitioners in China.
Ottawa artist Kathleen Gillis was on hand to discuss one of her works, “Uncompromised Courage,” a painting of Liu Chengjun who died after almost two years in prison. He was tortured to death for his involvement in broadcasting programs on Chinese television exposing the persecution.
