Peace and inner beauty are elegantly embodied in the traditional Chinese paintings of Cuiying Zhang. As part of its tour, the art exhibit will find its way to Ames Thursday through Sunday to promote reflection on ancient Chinese culture.

Growing up in Shanghai, China, Zhang’s artistic talents were quickly discovered. At the age of 10, she began her study under some of the most distinguished Chinese painters of the time. She is now herself an internationally renowned traditional Chinese painter, having held exhibitions in 27 countries and 90 cities.

Zhang credits Falun Gong, a traditional Chinese exercise and meditation practice, as a source of inspiration.

“My main source of inspiration comes from the power of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance,” Zhang says, referring to the three values associated with Falun Gong. “It comes from the energy of the universe. Falun Gong has given me magnificence in my art.”

The Falun Gong practice began in 1992 and quickly spread throughout China. Those who practice Falun Gong find the meditation to improve health, bring inner peace, reduce stress and heighten virtues. With more than 70 million practitioners in China, Falun Gong grew too large for the Communist leadership’s liking. It is now illegal to practice Falun Gong in China.

In 1996, Zhang, now living in Australia, developed severe arthritis that kept her from painting.

“The pain was so excruciating that I wasn’t able to eat or drink without assistance, let alone paint,” Zhang says. “I thought I was never going to be able to paint again.”

After practicing Falun Gong, Zhang found her arthritis was completely cured through the exercises that go with the meditation, and she was able to paint once again.

“Falun Gong has given me a second life,” Zhang says, acknowledging the meditation as the healing source for her arthritis as well as taking her painting to a new level.

“Since I started practicing Falun Gong, I have paid attention to improving my heart, and thus gained a better understanding of inner peace,” Zhang says. “This pure, upright and harmonious nature and inner beauty is shown through my art.”

However, her faith in Falun Gong, and her appeal to the government for the practice resulted in her persecution, with Zhang facing eight months of brutal torture in Chinese jails before being rescued by the Australian government and international community. While persecuted, Zhang found a creative release by composing poems, some of which she incorporated into her paintings. Zhang’s paintings reflect thousands of years of Chinese history.

“The art of Chinese paintings has the essence of traditional Chinese culture,” Zhang says. “The art can be abstract and sometimes metaphorical.”

Zhang adds that many of the paintings refer to Chinese legends and classic stories. Every painting has a story or message behind it.

Margaret Jiang, president of the Falun Dafa Association at Iowa State, believes that Zhang’s lifestyle of meditation is reflected in her art.

“Some artists are good at landscapes, some at poetry, but the most distinguishing characteristic of Zhang’s work is the great sense of peace that you feel just looking at her art,” Jiang says. “You cannot say the paintings are just pretty. Her art is a real reflection of her inner peace.”

To create their art, traditional Chinese painters of the past and today all still use the same materials: differing colors of ink, soft paint brushes and rice paper.

Despite using the same materials, each Chinese painter can create their art in many different styles.

“The main difference lies in the strength and style of brush stokes and ink intensity,” Zhang says.

Zhang has more than 50 paintings to display in her exhibit, which making its first Ames appearance.

The art will be displayed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday in the entrance of the Molecular Biology Building, with Zhang giving an opening talk at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday in the Molecular Biology Building. The exhibit will then move to the auditorium in the Ames Public Library from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Since space is limited, not all paintings may be available for display at each location. Therefore, the displayed work may alternate, showing paintings at the library that may not have been displayed at the campus location.

“I hope through this exhibit that people will appreciate these paintings as a reflection of the peace and beauty that are the essence of Chinese culture,” Jiang says.