SABIN BALASA (June 17, 1932, Dobriceni, Olt, Romania – April 1, 2008, Bucharest)

Painter, author and director of animated painting films, writer.

Art studies at: 
The Fine Arts Institute „Nicolae Grigorescu", Bucharest, 1951-1955
The Academy of Language and Italian Culture, Siena, Italy, 1965
The Academy of Fine Arts of Perugia, Perugia, Italy, 1966

He created a unique universe of archetypal figures and metaphysical themes that he expressed in his painting through a poetic and philosophic structure immersed in a romantic and cosmic atmosphere. His works are present in many public collections, including The National Museum of Art of Romania, and private collections all over the world.

Internationally awarded starting from his debut, his films were present at all major international animation & short film festivals: Mamaia, Oberhausen, Sydney, Hollywood,  Leipzig, Annecy, Krakow, Ottawa. Starting with his membership in the jury of Annecy International Animated Film Festival in 1973, his films were shown mainly out of competition. 

Animated painting short films:
"The Drop" - 1966
"The City" - 1967
"The Wave” - 1968
"The Phoenix Bird" - 1968
"Fascination" - 1969
"Return to the Future" - 1971
"The Galaxy" - 1973
"The Ode” - 1975
"Exodus Towards the Light" - 1979

More often than in his easel paintings, in his large mural paintings located in universities and other public areas, he addressed themes from universal mythology and legends which contributed to an enlarged popularity of his work. 

Mural Paintings located in public places:

Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iasi, Romania; a total of 19 murals, 18 made between 1968-1979 and one in 2002:
“Aspirations”
“The Triumph of Life”
“Nuclear Disaster”
“Icarus”
“Prometheus”
“Exodus Towards the Light”
“The Sun of Moldavia”
“Amphitheater” 
“Generations”
“Moldavia”
“The Morning Star” (triptych) 
“The Legend of master mason Manole”
“Cosmic Wedding”
“The Legend Of Dochia”
“The Ancestors”
“Homage to the Founders”
“The Galaxy of Love”

 Radisson Blu Hotel, Bucharest, (originally Bucharest Hotel):
“Cosmic Wedding”, 1981 

Dunarea de Jos University, Galati, Romania:
“Birth of the romanian people”, made in 1975 in the Central Military Museum, Bucharest,  the mural was relocated in 1989 to its current location, where it was retouched by the artist.
“The Hora” 1989

Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania:
“Genesis”, 2006
“Enchantment”, 2006

He has a history of over four decades of press publications: a large volume of articles and essays on his artistic activity and personal view on art’s importance in human development. 
His novels are satiric metaphors of social and often dramatic aspects of present and future of humanity. They radiate a similar fantastic atmosphere as his paintings do, but this time expressed in a narrative form.

Novels:
“The Blue Desert”, 1996
“The Exodus Towards the Light”, 2002
“Democracy in mirrors”, 2006