BALASENQ, 

My name is Vitaly Balashenko, and I was born in a small unrecognized country — the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. When I was 10 years old, my family moved to Saint Petersburg. It was there that my journey into the world of art began, and my path as an artist was formed.

At the age of 18, I developed a deep interest in art. During my student years, I spent a lot of time at the Hermitage Museum, where I visited exhibitions for free using my student ticket. These visits helped me better understand the world of art and develop my own perspective on it.

I received a diverse education, starting with studies at the Forest Engineering Academy and later enrolling in the Repin Academy of Fine Arts, where I pursued art history. For two years, I delved deeply into Western European art at the Hermitage. During this period, I was offered a job at a private Christian culture museum, where I researched icons, religious themes, and artifacts — from works of the Romanov dynasty to Fabergé masterpieces.

I have always dreamed of working at the Hermitage and even conducted tours there, aspiring to become a curator and dedicate my life to art. However, fate led me to Serbia, to Belgrade, where I now live in exile. This stage of my life became a new turning point in my creative journey.

Today, I continue to work on creating meaningful projects, drawing inspiration from my experiences and knowledge. I believe that art is not only a way to explore the world but also a means to leave a mark on it. My goal is to create something I can be proud of, looking back on my life. So that someone could say — "that was fucking awesome!"