Venetia Walkey's Bio

VENETIA WALKEY.

Sculptor & Peace Builder

Born Hampshire. England 1932

Studied Fine Arts. Medway College of Art. Sculpture at Guildford College of Art.

Has been living & working in Thailand since 1970. Studied informally with Professor Kien Yimsiri Dean of Faculty of Sculpture & Painting at Silpakorn University, Bangkok. Studied Buddhism, Meditation & Yoga. Inspired initially, to communicate Buddhist teaching via small unorthodox bronze sculptures classified officially as religious works of art.

Has held many exhibitions in Europe & Thailand. Work in private & public collections, in Europe, America & South East Asia. Awarded first prize for sculpture at an International Biennale in Bulgaria in 1993. She received an award for "Outstanding Women in Buddhism" at the UN Building in Bangkok in honour of International Women's Day in March 2004.

She is Creator & Coordinator of The Dhamma Park Foundation & Gallery. Director of the Dhamma Park Gallery, A Contemporary Centre for the Development of Spirituality & the Arts in Pasang, Lumphun, Thailand. Opened to the public in 2000.

Permanent exhibition at the Dhamma Park Gallery, of her modern conceptual Sculptures representing the core teaching of the Buddha, "The journey from Ignorance to Enlightenment", to raise Spiritual & Environmental Awareness & encourage ethical values essential for the true well being of society, via the study & practise of The Buddhist teaching, Humour, Satire & the Arts.

As the natural world is rapidly disappearing, we are rapidly being driven to escape into a world of virtual reality. Dhamma, (Pali), Dharma (Sanskrit), means Truth, the true nature of reality & is the name given to the Buddhist teaching. At Dhamma Park, she offers a peaceful & neutral space for people of all ages, nations & faiths & those who follow no specific path, for reflection on the real meaning & purpose of life & informal opportunities for everyone to relax, have fun & to connect with their innate creativity & spirituality via the Buddhist teaching & the Arts.

She believes that Artists who are concerned by the destructive thrust of human culture, have a valuable role to play in helping to bring about Global Spiritual Reintergration & in helping to relieve The "Spiritual Energy Crisis" by reflecting Goodness Truth & Beauty in their work.

She finds great inspiration in the Northern province of Lumphun, Thailand, with her partner & President of the Foundation, National Thai Artist Inson Wongsam. In her spare time she writes poetry, articles for magazines & newspapers, listens to classical music, reads widely & listens avidly to the BBC & other overseas radio programmes.

The non-profit Foundation is affiliated to The International Network of (Socially) Engaged Buddhists (INEB) The Spirit in Education Movement (SEM) & Alternatives to Consumerism (ATC). It is an official partner in UNESCO's programme for building Cultures of Peace & Peace Education.

The Foundation has received An Appreciation Award from "We the People's initiative & Pathways to Peace", International Secretariat & Official Peace Messenger to the UN. The Dhamma Park Project has the approval of HH the Dalai Lama.

A paper on "Buddhist Art for Contemporary Society" has been published in "Socially Engaged Buddhism for a New Millennium" by the Sathirakoses Naggapradipa Foundation. Distributed by :-

Suksit Siam Bangkok.

Parallax Press Berkely CA.

Wisdom Books. London.

Mandala Books. Australia.

Exhibitions, Prizes & Awards

1968

- Royal Society Portrait Sculptors - group show - London

1969

- Royal Academy Summer Exhibition - London

1973

- Alliance Francaise - Bangkok - One woman show

1978

- British Council - Bangkok - One woman show

1979

- Jonleigh Gallery - Guildford - England - One woman show

1980

- National Exhibition - Silpakorn University - Bangkok

- Open Thai Art Exhibition - Silpakorn University - Bangkok

1981

- Piraasil Gallery - Oriental Plaza - Bangkok - Group show

1982

- Museum of Modern Art - Kuala Lumpur - (Modern art in private Malaysia Collections)

- Visual Dhamma Gallery - Bangkok - Dhamma Group show

1985

- Visual Dhamma Gallery - Bangkok - Dhamma Group show

1986

- Cunningham Knowler Gallery - Winchester England - Group Show

1987

- Jonleigh Gallery - Guildford - England - Group show

- Gallery One - Bangkok - Group show

1988

- The Artist's Gallery - Bangkok - Group show

1989

- The Artist's Gallery - Bangkok - Group show

- The House of Humour & Satire in the Arts - Gabrovo - Bugaria, International Biennale,

First prize for Sculpture, awarded by the Ministry of Science, Education & Culture

- Jonleigh Gallery - Guildford - England - Group show

1992

- One Woman Show - Alliance Francaise de Bangkok - 80th Anniversary Collection

1993

- One Woman Show - Wat Bovorniwet - Bangkok - In honour of HH the Supreme Patriarch's 80th

Birthday Celebrations

1997

- Suan Pakkard Palace - Bangkok - Group Show - Artists save the Western Forests

1998

- 3 Artists - 3 Dimensions - Poems, Painting, focused on the sculptures - 2 Oceans Gallery

Bangkok

- Group Show - Kuppa Gallery - Bangkok

- Group Show - Artists save the Western Forests - National Gallery - Bangkok

- An Appreciation Award for The Dhamma Park Project from "We The People's Initiative" &

"Pathways to Peace" Coordinating Organisation with the United Nations

1999

- International Visual Art Exhibition - Srinakharinwirot University

2000

- Opening of the Dhamma Park Gallery - Permanent Exhibition of Contemporary Buddhist

Sculpture

2001

- Artists For Peace - Group Exhibition at Chiang Mai University's Museum of Modern Art

2002

- Joint Exhibition of Sculpture with Inson Wongsam at the Cultural Centre, Ampur Umong - Chiang

Mai Wine & Sausage Festival

2004

- Outstanding Women in Buddhism Awards 2004 - for Outstanding Contribution To Buddhism

United Nations International Women's Day - UN Bangkok

The Dhamma Park Gallery & Heritage Gardens

A Sculpture Park & Contemporary Centre For Spiritual Development & the Arts