Article By: Alexander Sessa

Falun Dafa, or Falun Gong, is a spiritual practice that relieves stress and increases energy.  The practice became particularly popular in China during the 1990s, which disturbed the Chinese government and caused them to ban it in 1999.  Consequently, thousands of Chinese citizens have been persecuted for the past ten years.  This past week, the State House held an exhibition of artwork depicting the brutalities of persecution in China.

The artwork on display was created to educate people of the horrific behavior against Chinese practitioners of Falun Gong and to inspire others to continue its practice.  A few of the paintings depicted wives and mothers of persecuted husbands and sons.  These paintings were grim and dark, however, the images were not horrific, but solemn.  Others depicted the children of persecuted practitioners.  In one picture, a woman is being arrested in front of her child for her practices and convictions.  In another, more disturbing scene, a little girl cries as she holds the ashes of her deceased parents.

On the other hand, several of the portraits were inspirational and optimistic.  One such painting depicted heavenly beings descending to Earth to educate the world about Falun Gong.  The Earth, at this point, is depicted as happy and peaceful with followers praising their gods.  Another painting depicted a western culture angel protecting a Chinese follower of Falun Gong.

Steve Gigliotti, a graduate of Union College, explained to a group of spectators the accuracy of the messages in these pictures and believes in the messages the pictures convey.  “I first learned about it in China, but I started practicing in Boston,” Gigliotti said.  He went on to explain that he lived in China for three years and was arrested and interrogated for his practice.  “The Chinese secret police had copies of my transcripts,” he continued.  “I was pulled out of my car and had a bag put over my head; they interrogated me for two days.”

Gigliotti explained that he was released after two days in prison when it was discovered that he was not a practitioner of Falun Gong. Gigliotti insists the actions taking place in China are genocide.

Many practitioners of Falun Gong have fled China in an attempt to save its practice and speak out against the alleged genocide taking place.  Among the artists whose work was displayed were Zhang Kunlun of Ottawa, Canada; Zhang Cuiying of Sydney, Australia; Gu Ruizhen of Taipei, Taiwan; Yao Chongqi of San Fransisco, Calif.; and Wei Jang Chir of New York.  All of these artists were born and raised in China, but left to start new lives teaching Falun Gong.