Sabin Bălaşa
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Sabin Balasa (June 17, 1932 - April 1, 2008) is a painter, author and director of animated painting films,writer. Image:Sabin small.jpg
The declared mission of Sabin Balasa's life and art was to initiate a great artistic and cultural renaissance. He chose to be a renaissant, as he understood that the Renaissance is not an historical event, connected to a certain period of reconsideration of values, but a phenomenon linked, as a state of mind, to the work of the creator of cultural values. Beyond the intrinsic value of his painting, the vast artistic work of Sabin Balasa, which embodies, as well the cinematographic creation (he received prestigious international recognition for his films of animated painting), literature and journalistic work, is irefutably imprinted upon time. He was born in Oltenia, in Dobriceni village, June 17, 1932. His father, a priest and his mother, a school teacher, created, in their own house, an archeological and ethnographical museum, containing more than 3000 pieces. He went to school in Craiova, than followed the Art Academy in Bucharest. He felt a spiritual connection to Italy, which he visited several times as the receiver of different awards, or just to paint, especially in Florence. He felt the same connection to Jassy, in Moldavia, where he painted between 1968 and 1978 the famous mural paintings which ennobles the walls in The Chamber of the Lost Steps at the „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University in Jassy, and where he always felt like home, as he used to joke calling himself a "moldavian originally oltanian". The celebrity he knew due to the Jassy murals, for which he was considered a classic before the age of 40, determined a true „hunt for Sabin Balasa”as he was admired by most and coveted by many.
The art collectors in Romania as well as in Europe or USA wanted his work, raising the price for one painting to a level considered astronomical by artists with less luck and talent. Political rulers also acquired his work: the Ceausescu government commissioned two paintings representing their leaders, as well as a postrevolutionary government who bought a representative painting which was a gift from the Romanian government to the president of United States of America, Bill Clinton. Despite the fact that he lived through different political periods of time as communism and democracy, he followed none of the official artistic directions, nor the socialist realism nor the actual postmodernism and created his own artistic ideology, romantic, cosmic and timeless. His artistic successes were also followed by frantic denials, fueled mostly by the fact that his paintings were sold at prices much higher than the Romanian classics and unthinkable by his colleagues. Most recent example was the commission in 2005 of the two murals ("Gensis" and "Faery") by the Academy of Economical Studies in Bucharest which created a press scandal, revolving around their price. Although his art is not accessible, it is unvailing with generosity and, through unseizable steps of initiation, it speaks with truth to each viewer. His work doesn’t need to be explained but felt, and only through feeling it, one can then undestand its meanings. A unique, hypnotic language defining to the art of Sabin Balasa reveals with discretion what the author had always known – the Rennaisance he wanted to initiate had blossomed from the very moment his masterly hand had first rose the brush.
Studies: 1955 - Institutul de Arte Plastice Nicolae Grigorescu, Bucharest, Romania 1965 - lectures at The Language and Culture Italian Academy, Siena 1966 - lectures at The Painting Academy of Perugia
Galleries in the country and abroad
Rome 1978, Rome 1980, Stockholm 1982, Bucharest, National Art Museum, 1982, Kerkera Greece 1985, Moscow, Tbilisi and other capital cities of the ex USSR 1988, Bucharest, 1992, Israel 1994, Bucharest World Trade Center 2000, Iasi Universitatea A.I. Cuza 2002, Bucharest 2005
Animated painting movies:
Author and director of 12 animated painting movies:
"Picatura"(Drip, The)-1966 "Orasul"(City, The)-1967 "Valul"(Wave, The)-1968 "Pasarea Pheonix"(Pheonix Bird, The)-1968 "Fascinatie"(Fascination)-1969 "Intoarcere in viitor"(Return To The Future)-1971 "Galaxia"(Galaxy, The)-1973 "Oda"(Ode, The)-1975 "Exodul spre lumina"(Exode Towards The Light)-1979
Murals:
19 murals (aprox. 270sqm), Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza, Iasi, Romania:
"Aspiratie"(Aspiration) 380/546 cm "Omagiu Intemeietorilor"(Homage To The Founders) 372/471 cm "Amfiteatru"(Amphitheatre) 452/400 cm "Generatii"(Generations) 452/379 cm "Triumful vietii"(Triumph Of Life) 420/249 cm "Dezastrul atomic"(Atomic Desastre) 420/249 cm "Icar"(Icarus) 422/248 cm "Prometeu"(Prometheus) 417/247 cm "Exodul spre lumina"(Exode Towards The Light) 416/247 cm "Stefan Cel Mare" 419/250 cm "Moldova"(Moldavia) 430/265 cm "Luceafarul" - triple painting (429/267 cm, 430/267 cm, 431/269 cm) "Legenda Mesterului Manole"(Legend of Master Manole, The) 432/268 cm "Nunta Cosmica"(Cosmic Wedding) 431/268 cm "Legenda Dochiei"(Legend of Dochia, The) 429/268 cm "Strabunii"(Great Grandparents, The) 433/268 cm "Glaxia Iubirii"(Galaxy Of Love, The) 1080/466 cm
2 murals, Unviersitatea Dunarea de Jos, Galati, Romania:
"Razboinicii"(Warriors, The) - at first located in The Central Military Museum in Bucharest, at the disposal of the artist when the museum was demolished, the art-work was moved and then restored in the new location by the artist. "Hora"(Romanian Round Dance, The)
"Nunta Cosmica (Miorita)"(Cosmic Wedding (Miorita)) ,Hotel Bucuresti, Bucharest, Romania
2 murals, Academia de Studii Economice, Bucharest, Romania
"Geneza"(Genesis, The) "Feerie"(Fairy Play, The)
2 murals, Agricola International, Bacau, Romania
Other murals in private residences.
Written literary production:
"Desertul Albastru"(Blue Desert, The), novel, 1996 "Exodul spre Lumina"(Exode Towards The Light), novel, 2002 "Democratie in Oglinzi"(Democracy In Mirrors), novel, 2006
Articles and essays in written press:
Author of numerous articles and essays in the written press between 1956 and 2007, amongst:
Balasa, Sabin - Picasso, marginals at a gallery <Red Flag>, November 19, 1968
Balasa, Sabin - My movies' Ideea, <Tribune, The>, March 5, 1970
Balasa, Sabin - Tradition and Innovation In The Animated Movie, <Romania Literara>, August 29, 1970
Balasa, Sabin - Ugly In The Townscape, <Romania Literara>, November 1970
Balasa, Sabin - Spring, The, <Albina>, G.V. 1971
Balasa, Sabin - The Memory of Heroic Facts, <Contemporanul>, August 20, 1971
Balasa, Sabin - That Wich Amazes, <Romania literara>, November 11, 1971
Balasa, Sabin - Art - A Way of Living, <Viata studenteascaa>, October 25, 1972
Balasa, Sabin - Space Of Love - Humanism ,<Scanteia tineretului>, January 3, 1972
Balasa, Sabin and Negru, Radu - Dialogue About Monumental Painting, September 29, 1972
Balasa, Sabin - To Be Honest, To Be Free, To Be An Artist,<Contemporanul>, November 3, 1972
Balasa, Sabin - Fidias and The Possible Man, <Viata studenteascaa>, May 16, 1973
Balasa, Sabin - Picasso's Immortality,<Flacara>, April 21, 1973
Balasa, Sabin - If I Was To Recommend,<Contemporanul>, January 18, 1974
Balasa, Sabin - Dragasanii Mei, <Romania pitoreasca>,#3, 1974
Balasa, Sabin - Art - A Way Of Living <Viata studenteasca>, January 24, 1974
Balasa, Sabin - Art Chose Woman as It's Sign,<Femeia>, Almanah 1974
Balasa, Sabin - The Real Contribution of The Artist in The Enrichment of Life in The Citadel, <Informatia Bucurestiului>, November 9, 1974
Balasa, Sabin - The Sign of Maturity, <Romania libera>, Junde 30 1975
Balasa, Sabin - Life, A Painted Poem, <Contemporanul>, December 31, 1976
Balasa, Sabin - Artists' Work, <Contemporanul>, July 2, 1976
Balasa, Sabin - Corneliu Baba And The Colors Of Permanence, <Albina>, January 1977
Balasa, Sabin - The Consciousness of Immortality, <Contemporanul>, March 18, 1977
Balasa, Sabin - Vasile Blendea a Retrospect, <Contemporanul>, 12 August 1977
Balasa, Sabin - Common Duties, <Romania literara>, 18 August 1977
Balasa, Sabin - The Rhythm With No Stop, <Luceafarul>, December 10, 1977
Balasa, Sabin - I Love Creation and I Hate Destruction, <Saptamana>, December 1, 1978
Balasa, Sabin - Art For Public, <Scanteia tineretului>,20 July 1978
Balasa, Sabin - The Prestige of Art, <Tribuna>,March 23, 1978
Balasa, Sabin - No Cures for The Heart, <Scanteia tineretului>, November 28, 1982
Balasa, Sabin - Weapons, War, Incompatible With Art and Culture, <Romania libera>, 29 June 1982
Balasa, Sabin - The Responsibility of The Man of Art, <Flacara>, June 18, 1982
Balasa, Sabin - About Me... <Catalogul Muzeului de Arta>, Bucuresti, October-November 1982
Balasa, Sabin - Me and Eternity, <Diplomat club> #7-8 1998
Balasa, Sabin - The Future is Far Reachinga, <Cronica Romana>, March 3, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Money For Life or Life For Money?,<Cronica romana>, march 10th 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Another Devil Face, <Cronica Romana>,March 24, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Old Age Without Youth, <Cronica romana> March 29, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Generations of Sacrifice In The Age of Sufferings,<Cronica romana>, April 5, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Dreamt Heaven, <Cronica romana>, April 15, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - The Planet Without Working Places, <Cronica romana>, April 22, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Politics, A Whore?, <Cronica romana>, April 29, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Illusions and Hopes, <Cronica romana>, May 7, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Soul Crisis, <Cronica romana>,May 13, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - The Option, Or How You Lay, You Sleepi!,<Cronica romana>, May 21, 1999
Balasa,Sabin - Human Training, <Cronica romana>, 28 May 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Stupidity Is a Negative Capacity,<Cronica romana>, June 3, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Magic And Art, <Cronica romana>,June 11, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Laugh Making, <Cronica romana>, June 24, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Romanian People and Envy, <Cronica romana>, July 1, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Between Interests and Needs, <Cronica romana>, July 9, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Second Hand, <Cronica romana>, July 15, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Romanian People and The Leader, <Cronica romana>, July 22, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Mimetism, <Cronica romana>, July 29th .1999
Balasa, Sabin - Missing Communism, <Cronica romana>, August 5, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Wrap Man, <Cronica romana>, 12 August 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Lack Of Harmony, <Cronica romana>, August 19, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Uninominal Vote, Gentlmen!, <Cronica romana>, August 26, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Dream Of Rebirth, <Cronica romana>, September 2, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - About impotence, <Cronica romana>, September 9, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Restitutio in integrum, <Cronica romana> September 16, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Who Says What, Who Does What, <Cronica romana>, September 23, 1999
Balasa, Sabin - Planet Evolution Between Fear and Ideals,<Cronica romana>, September 30, 1999
