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'The Call of Innocence'—One of seventeen paintings in The Art of Truth, Compassion, Tolerance Exhibit at UCLA's Kerkhoff Art Gallery (falunart.org)
The Art of Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance is an exhibit that was on display last week at UCLA’s Kerckhoff Art Gallery. Seventeen paintings featured include Chinese watercolor, silk ink, and oil on canvas.
The artists in this exhibit describe their work as realist oil painting, or Neo-Renaissance, and, according to their Web site, their work encompasses seven themes.
The paintings portray such detail, one might mistake them for photos.
The artwork has a gripping story to tell. Inspiration to initiate the exhibit was spawned by the release of Professor Kunlun Zhang in 2001 from a brainwashing center in China, where he had been jailed for his belief in Falun Gong. The Canadian government’s pressure, as well as efforts from Mr. Zhang’s family members, won his release.
Many, however—about 125,000 Falun Gong practitioners, according to a US State Department report—languish in Chinese re-education through labor camps.
For Chang Yi, assistant director at the UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry an co-coordinator of the art exhibit, this exhibit hits home. Below is an interview with Mr. Yi.
Epoch Times: Tell us what this art exhibit is about?
Yi: This art exhibit is about Falun Gong. It's trying to show the viewers what
Falun Gong is and to expose the on-going persecution of this spiritual practice, which is Buddhist in nature.
Epoch Times: Why would the artists choose those themes for their paintings?
Yi: First, most of the artists are Falun Gong practitioners. Naturally, they would like to introduce their spiritual belief to the viewers. Second, the persecution started 11 years ago. Due to its massive scale, cruel, and violent nature, all practitioners outside China are doing everything they can to expose and protest this major violation of basic human rights. The artists have chosen the way they know best—art—to do just that.
Epoch Times: Is art a good way to send the message?
Yi: Yes, I believe so. Art has a unique way to touch people's heart and soul, and convey emotions. I can still vividly remember some photographs I saw a long time ago because it touched me, and I will remember them for a long time. A good painting can, at least, have the same effect on people, in my opinion. Some of the artists whose work were displayed in this exhibit were once persecuted themselves in China. They know the very type of persecution taking place in China right now and translated their experiences into paintings. Others have been exposed themselves to the persecution for a long time and captured the moments very well.
Epoch Times: How do you feel about the exhibit?
Yi: I am specially connected to the exhibit as my family members are being persecuted, to be more specific, my mother and sister. They were arrested more than nine months ago and no family visits were allowed. The reason they were arrested is because they practice Falun Gong. My father lost his job due to the same reason as the local policemen continuously harassed the company my dad worked for, and that led to the end of his job. Therefore, I can totally relate to the emotions the artists are trying to capture.
Epoch Times: What would you like the viewers to walk away from the exhibit?
Yi: To enjoy the highly skilled artists' paintings, to have an understanding on what Falun Gong is about, and to be informed about the persecution and it's cruel nature.
Beyond that, if they would like to help, I am launching a campaign called “One Postcard, Save One Life,” trying to get my mother and sister out of prison. The way it works is that I will provide two Chinese government's addresses at the art exhibit or you can to get it on the website: www.dearmother.info. You can write a postcard and ask the government to release my family members. If there are a good number of people sending postcards, it will put pressure on the government and may eventually lead to the release of my family members.
Below are the two addresses:
Criminal Tribunal, People's Court of Xuhui District, Shanghai
Judge: Mr. Zhu, Xi-Wei
No.188 Yishan Road, Xuhui District
Shanghai City, 20030
China
Xuhui Branch Bureau, Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Public Security
610 Office, Chief Officers: Mr. Cui, Tie-Jun
No.901 Tianyaoqiao Rd., Xuhui District
Shanghai City, 200030
China
The Art of Truth, Compassion, Tolerance will return to UCLA’s Kerkhoff Art Gallery April 19-23.
