ON July 20 1999, the Falun Gong form of meditative exercise was banned in China.

Since that that date 13 years ago, many thousands of practitioners have been tortured and illegally persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party in an effort to “transform” them.

The terrifying ordeals they have experienced, not least artists, are reflected in the international art exhibition, The Art Of Zhen Shan Ren (Truth Compassion Tolerance), on tour at the York Guildhall, St Helen’s Square, next month.

“This is an extraordinarily moving, intimate and inspiring exhibition detailing both an inner spiritual life and an outer human rights tragedy,” says publicist Becky James.

“These realistic oil paintings and Chinese watercolours from mostly Chinese artists give a unique insight into the spiritual discipline Falun Gong, which is based on the principles of truth, compassion and tolerance.

“Part of the exhibition is dedicated to showing how the practice of Falun Gong has changed people’s lives, providing them with a return to traditional Chinese values.”

Exhibition founder and sculptor Professor Kunlun Zhang, former director of the Institute of Sculpture at the Institute of Art in Shandong and himself a practitioner of Falun Gong, says: “Our art comes from a pure heart and our work reflects our personal experience. Art is able to greatly influence the way people think and it also directly connects with human morality – and the two interact.”

Dr Zhang was detained for three months in a labour camp in China. In 2004, he started to work with other artists who practise Falun Gong to create the exhibition. United by their experiences, the artists use their art to tell their stories, speak out and call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Alongside Dr Zhang, the show’s featured artists are Xiaoping Chen, Dr Xiqiang Dong, Tingyin Shi, Zhengping Chen, Kathleen Gillis, Yuan Li, Daci Shen and Ruizhen Gu.

Eddie Aitken, the exhibition’s promoter in Britain, says: “These paintings express both the inner life of a Falun Gong practitioner and the shocking human rights tragedy that is unfolding in China. Our exhibition is a rare opportunity to see the art that has moved and inspired so many people around the world.

“The paintings show the steadfast spirit of those who remain compassionate and tolerant under such harsh persecution. The story portrayed is one of beauty, courage, and justice – and the message is one of hope and triumph.”

Since 2004, the exhibition has toured more than 500 cities in 50 countries in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

The first exhibition in Europe was in Geneva in March 2005; by December 2009, 147 exhibitions had taken took place in 25 European countries. The show has toured Britain and was seen in the Houses of Parliament last December.

Summarising the exhibition’s impact, Becky says: “The Art of Zhen Shan Ren holds deep inspiration far above commercial interests. With the emergence of China’s economic and political power, artworks by contemporary Chinese who have blessings from the government are selling well, but the 18 artists exhibiting here, all Chinese but one, have not bowed to sanctions of the state. Several have been tortured.

“Their New-Renaissance oil paintings and traditional Chinese watercolours encourage orthodox methods and practices of art, upholding pure traditional culture from the old masters. These brave artists create from a different point of view.

“They paint for a basic human dignity that is compromised in China, drawing from and depicting real stories of extremes: savage suffering, triumphant courage and enduring beauty.”

Their peaceful resistance can remind everyone that violence does not always need to be met with violence, suggests Becky. “In telling this untold story, words come from the voiceless, those who live by the core virtues of Falun Dafa – Truth, Compassion, Tolerance – as well as prisoners of conscience and victims of injustice everywhere,” she says.

“They attempt to create an aesthetic sense based on these virtues’ highest forms, so as to benefit the viewer, art, and society. Some have risked their lives to accomplish this feat, believing art can stabilise a society through its ethics and that this is the responsibility of the artist.”

The Art Of Zhen Shan Ren will be on show at the York Guildhall from June 7 to 18, 10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 2pm on Sundays; admission is free.

• The exhibition will be opened by the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Julie Gunnell, on June 7 at 10am.