NEW YORK–Good art can inspire benevolent thoughts and uplift one’s spirit, according to Michelle Chen, Gold Medal Winner in the 2009 Chinese International Figure Painting Competition hosted by New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV). Chen was honored for her painting Shock in a ceremony at the Salmagundi Art Club Dec. 4.
Chen had entered three paintings in the contest: Silent Night. The Call of Innocence, and Shock. She said she was inspired to paint Shock after reading a true story on the Clearwisdom web site.
The story is about a female Falun Gong practitioner who was persecuted in a prison in mainland China. In spite of the iron shackles guards had placed on her legs, she held no anger in her heart, and instead meditated peacefully. Suddenly, her body rose into the air. The guards were stunned—some of them still holding instruments of torture in their hands. Some were dumbfounded and some knelt on the floor to beg for mercy.
Chen felt painting the story would help more people learn about the persecution of Falun Gong. “I hope the persecution can be stopped as soon as possible,” she said.
