Oleksandr (Sashko) Balabai (UKR). Painting.

I started painting at the age of 49 in November 2020, but been doing art since birth. First the art of walking and talking, then kindergarten, the trepanation of the skull after a bad play on the playground, long rehabilitation, school. Then the dream of joining the theater instead joining the Kharkiv Polytechnic because my parents said: “You will walk in a jacket and tie, like a normal person, and not thump around the corner, like those drunken artists and actors.” Then making business, amateur film shooting, photography. Then covid 19 and quarantine. The events are over, there is nothing to shoot, I began to lose my mind and had to turn for help to a psychologist. Finally, a slight relaxation of quarantine and participating at “Festival of Naive Art” project, where I was a member of the film crew… Got aquainted with naive artists I got magical kick that prompted me to draw. I realized that should not be afraid to draw and show my work to the public, even if I do not have any art education and I am almost 50 years old. During the time of unwanted isolation, I had a lot of time to deep into myself and find new meanings, rethinking my past. “If there is no pandemia the world will not have a chance to see my paintings,- Oleksandr (Sashko) Balabai.

One day the war in my country changed my life dramatically and I had to move with my family to another city. The pandemic also affected me, changed me from the inside. I`m a very social person, but due to quarantine any communication has become impossible. Before, I photographed, filmed various cultural and artistic events every day, met interesting people, participated in projects. But all this stopped and a break occurred in my mind, I closed in on myself and plunged into a deep depression with thoughts of suicide. I was saved from a critical mood by a psychologist, among his useful advice was an offer to paint. I was also influenced by an expedition with the famous Ukrainian curator Pavel Gudimov within the project “Festival of Naive Art”, where I met naive artists. I felt that painting is my tool to express my thoughts, it gives me motivation for developing creativity and the opportunity to go through any trouble. Painting`s given me the freedom and platform to express what worries me. The feelings I experienced during quarantine, my experiences and rethinking my life, addressing certain moments from childhood and youth – all this is reflected in my works.

My painting “Lesya Ukrainka-Forest Song-Mother of Lukash and Kilina” (Work from a series dedicated to the poetic play “Forest Song” by the famous Ukrainian writer Lesya Ukrainka) tells about the erroneous values of those times, and I see it now, when the culture in our country is pushed to the background. The first thing that makes people think is about consumption and a full stomach.

“Lesya Ukrainka-Forest Song-Kilina`s children and Starvelings”- Work from a series dedicated to the poetic play “Forest Song” by the famous Ukrainian writer Lesya Ukrainka. This year, Ukraine celebrates the 150th anniversary of her birth, but in a pandemic, it is very unnoticed and, in my opinion, not enough to honor such a significant figure for Ukraine. I have a 14-year-old son who had also to decrease contacts with friends and get an online education during quarantine. The work depicts children from the play of Lesya Ukrainka, behind which are mythical heroes – Starvellings, eternally hungry, evil creatures who can swallow our children in the dark world of ignorant, untalented and poor. Today it is happening because of a pandemic, once caused by political and economic problems in Ukraine, restrictions on the rights of the countryside population. Children have empty plates and smart toys, but with an empty stomach and, in my opinion, due to lack of knowledge, an empty head, there are no opportunities to develop, learn, become better.

#365daysafter art project