A Life Expressed in Art
Sunyata, An Australian Artist – Learnings, Exhibitions and Art Development History
Art Exhibitions, Music and Other Inspiration Over Half a Century
0Sunyata was born and named Geoffrey Raymond Ween to Raymond Walter Ween and Stella Joan Ween (maiden name Berry) on the 10th of March 1958 in North Adelaide, South Australia.
He was known as Geoff Ween in his youth.
He took on the Name Geoff Ween-Vermazen to suit the tradition of his Dutch wife in naming their Children.
In August 2002, his name was legally changed to Sunyata.
Work before 2002 was signed by either Geoff Ween or Geoff Ween-Vermazen. An estimated 4500 works are privately owned prior to 2021.
Exhibiting History, Solo Shows, Installations & Notable Group Showings
1983 – 2022
Australia
1983 – Harriet Gallery, Adelaide, SA
1984 – Federation Art Society Exhibition, Balmain, Sydney, NSW
1990 – Art Zone ( Feb), Adelaide, SA
1990 – Art Zone (Nov), Adelaide, SA
1991 – University of Adelaide, SA
1992- Art Images group show for the Dalai Lama, Norwood, SA
1992 – Chesser Street Gallery, Adelaide, SA
1993 – Chesser Street Gallery, Adelaide, SA
1994 – Installations March-June-September University of Adelaide, SA
1995 – Greenway Gallery, Adelaide, SA
1995 – 1997 – Junk Bonds Touring show S.A.T.E.P., Australia wide
1997 – Greenaway Gallery, Adelaide, SA
1998 – Artifacts Gallery, Croydon, SA
1999 – Greenhill Gallery, North Adelaide, SA
2001 – Art images Gallery, Norwood, Adelaide, SA
2002 – Soho Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2002 – Art Domain Gallery, Norwood, Adelaide, SA
2003 – Blue Door Studio, Willunga, SA
2006 – Blue Door Gallery, South Melbourne, VIC
2019 – Tanks Gallery, Cairns, QLD
2022 – Crate59 Gallery, Cairns, QLD
Internationally
2007 – Art2day Gallery, Pune, India
Studies
1983 – 2022
Art Studies
1988 – 1st yr B.A.-Sculpture (Major), Ceramics, Printmaking, Drawing, Art History, David Wilson, Bruce Armstrong, Victorian College of the Arts Melbourne, VIC
1996 – Intaglio Printmaking, Geoff Gibbons, TAFE College, Adelaide, SA
1999 – 2001 – Advanced Diploma of Applied Art and Design. TAFE College , Intaglio Printmaking Major (high Distinctions ), Ceramics, Drawing, History, Business Studies, Ceramics, Drawing, Computer Graphics, Art Business Studies, Art History (Geoff Gibbons, Peter Sinclair, Maureen Pritchard) Adelaide, SA
1970 – 1982
Music Studies
1970 -1972 – Classical Piano Studies, Mrs Solomon, Adelaide, SA
1977 – 1978 – Jazz Theory and Compositions, Jazz Guitar Technique, John Wilson, Adelaide, SA
1979 – 1980 – Don Andrews, Sydney, NSW
1978- 1980 – Classical Guitar Technique, Peter Andrews, Music Conservatorium, Sydney, NSW
1981 – 1982 – Classical Composition and Theory, Classical Guitar Technique, John DellaTorre, Adelaide Consortium of Music, SA
1985 – 2013
Other Studies & Interests
Australia
1981 – 1982 – Classical composition and Theory, Classical Guitar Technique, John DellaTorre, Adelaide Consortium of Music, SA
1985 – 1987 – The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Bhakti Yoga Ashram between Mildura and Wentworth, SA, and Ashram, Albert Park, VIC
1992-1995 – FIUNG (Geomancy, subtle energy, Environmental studies, Jurgen Schmidt), Handorf, SA
2004-2005 – Landmark Education Forum *Advanced Self-Expression and Leadership * Communications -Access to Power *Communication and Power to Create, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth
2004 – Vipassana, Carrickalinga, SA
International Movements
2007 – Dhammananda Vipassana Centre Vipassana, Markal, Maharashtra, India
2008 – Brahmvent Ramdulare Ashram in Madhavpur Ghed, Gujarat. India,
2010 – Vipassana Centre, Pune City, Maharashtra, India
2011 – Padi forest Bhakti Yoga, South Goa
2012 – 2013 Ramana Ashram, Jnana Yoga , (Music Studies, informal) Arunachala , Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu
2013 – Between, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia and (music writing and video)Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India
Other Related Arts Projects
1997 – 2002
1997 – Noarlunga Arts and Music Festival Launch, Artist Co-Designer
1997 – Willunga Basin Youth Arts and Music Festival, Arts Director
2002 – ” EXPLAIN PAIN ” Book. Neuro Orthopaedic Institution of Australasia, Art Illustrations, Computer Graphics and Designs, www.noigroup.com
Notable Peers & Influences
1979 – 2023
1979 – Alaine Vālodze Duets
1981 – 1982 – Greg Kingston idiomatic and non-idiomatic Free forming
1977 – Ongoing Anthony Brown classical and baroque compositions
1977 – 1978 – Tony Lewis, Mike Hodson , Freeform Avantgarde
1991 – Riley Lee, The Eagle and the Ocean https://rileylee.bandcamp.com/album/the-eagle-and-the-ocean
1977 – 1998 – Tony Nitra ,Duets and Recording
1994 – Sunyata, Tony Nirta, Simon Salter, Early recordings 94 https://open.spotify.com/artist/62AL2vlWZVlBycNwrC4UgH?si=CxKhVfRBTOiTJKyg5qaq6A
1998 – Sunyata, Tony Nirta and Simon Salter, Silk Road 98 https://open.spotify.com/album/4y1L4BcRBNF41qjzkB2QbC?si=IWzS79cgRWmBlkPxXlsdfg
2020 – 2023 – Sunyata-Chris O’shea https://on.soundcloud.com/xtNoAZerLRtvaERq8