Falun Gong Art Exhibit in London

At this venue in North London artworks are on display.

This is art by Falun Gong practitioners.

Falun Gong is a Chinese spiritual practice that became widely practiced in China during the nineties.

In 1999 the Chinese communist regime launched a crackdown on Falun Gong, arresting and torturing practitioners to make them give up the practice.

The persecution has lasted to this day, leaving thousands dead and many children orphaned.

Falun Gong practitioner Annie Yang was at the exhibition to speak with the public about her experiences in China.

[Annie Yang, Falun Gong Practitioner]:

“In 2005 I was arrested and sentenced, just because of this belief, and at the labour camp they really tortured me, physically and mentally, to force me to renounce my belief.”

An experience all too familiar to art professor Zhang Kunlun, the man behind the exhibition. UK exhibition coordinator Eddy Atkin explains.

[Eddy Atkin, Zhen Shan Ren Art Exhibition (UK)]:

“The idea of the exhibition was from professor Zhang, who had actually suffered himself within China; he’d undergone some of this persecution. But, given his ability to express himself through art, he collected a number of artists together, and in doing so put this rich collection [together]. And that collection… we now have a selection here on display.”

So what does the public think?

Anat Hooper found one painting in particular very moving.

[Anat Hooper, Exhibition Attendee]:

“It’s very sad to see a child losing their parents, and she just holds them in the box. And I remember… it reminded me of when I was a child, of how I was afraid to lose my parents, and how grateful I am for not losing my parents as a child. That’s why it’s made a big impact.”

The exhibition, called the Truth, Compassion, Tolerance Art Exhibit, is currently touring internationally.

Ben Hedges, NTD news, London

NTDTV