EXHIBITIONS of some of China’s most renowned artists of the 20th century
will be held at Sunnybank Hills and Chinatown in Fortitude Valley from next
week.
They aim to raise awareness of the Chinese Government’s crackdown on the
Falun Gong movement in that country.
Among the works will be those from the private collection of the Dai family,
considered by many to be one of China’s greatest artists.
Practitioners of Falun Gong, the family has offered to put the rare and
valuable works on show because Qi Baishi’s granddaughter Qi Bingshu, a
famous painter in her own right, was imprisoned in a Beijing labour camp in
1999 and tortured for refusing to give up her practice of the discipline. It
is an ancient spiritual system based on the principles of truthfulness,
compassion and forbearance.
At 70 years of age, she has suffered cruel injuries and can no longer lift
her brush to paint.
Her grandfather raised Chinese art to a level never achieved before in its
centuries long tradition.
Qi Baishi received many honours and awards in his life, including the World
Peace Prize by the World Peace Council in 1955.
After his death the council awarded him the title of World Famous Cultural
Figure.
Being held by the Australian-Chinese Cultural and Art Association, the
exhibitions will be at the Sunnybank Library at Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown
on November 14-16 from 9.30am to 4pm and opposite Burlington Supermarket in
China Town on November 14-18 from 10.30am to 4pm.
Posting date: 10/Nov/2003
Original article date: 6/Nov/2003
Category: Media Report
