Born 1969 in Brăila, Aura Bălănescu lives and works in Timișoara, Romania.

Aura Bălănescu is a graduate of BA/MA Sculpture Department (2003), Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, West University of Timisoara. Since her PhD in Visual Arts (2009), she has become known for exploring the concept of media sculpture that could be a particular case or an anomaly around the traditional artwork, but more precisely, it contributes to the definition of the new paradigm of the integrative media work as a corollary of multi-perceptual approaches and mutations of artistic processualism, or as a meeting between art, science, technology, and everyday life. Her interests in the new media art were presented in conferences, such as Doors – Digital Incubator for Museums, Ars Electronica Linz (2022), Br41n.IO Hackathon, Ars Electronica Linz (2019), Zip-Scene Analogue and Digital Immersive Environments, Moholy-Nagy University of Arts and Design Budapest (2018), Light Edu Symposium, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism Timisoara (2018), Stereo & Immersive Media, Lusophone University of Humanities, Lisbon (2018), Media Art Histories, Science and Technology, RE: TRACE, Danube University, Krems (2017) and RE:NEW, RIXC Centre for New Media Art Riga (2013). Also, her works, from stereoscopic representation to interactive and immersive digital installation, were exhibited in festivals, such as Layers of Reality, Romanian Cultural Institute, New York (2023), Hiperestezia – Art Encounters Biennial Timisoara (2023), Oasis. Green Identity, STPT Timisoara (2021), Convertible Structures, Fusion AIR București (2021), The Use of Man – Art Danube, Novi Sad (2018), Elektro Arts, Cluj (2018), Baroque II Urban, Museum of Art Timisoara (2018). Aura Bălănescu co-founded the site-specific art platform Avantpost (2014) and Tehnoarte Association (2020) for mapping the technological art in Timisoara.

• PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

2021 – Present, Chief Curator & Project Manager, National Museum of Art Timisoara

2023 – Present, Invited Professor / Media Art and Experiment course, Photography & Video Department, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, West University of Timisoara

05/04/2017 – 15/05/2019, Museographer – Museum of Art Timisoara

15/09/2008 – 15/06/2011, Visual Arts Teacher – Fine Arts High School Timisoara

• STUDIES:

PhD in Visual Arts (The Media Sculpture Thesis) (2005-2009), School of Doctoral Studies, West University of Timișoara

BA/MA Sculpture Department (1998-2003) Fine Arts Faculty and Design, West University of Timișoara

• OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:

Certified in Project Management, Best Advisor Timisoara

Certified in Education (Middle & High School) / Pedagogy Department, West University of Timisoara

Certified in Adult Long-Term Education, Extreme Training Timisoara

Certified in Web Design, Ioan Slavici University Timisoara

• PLATFORMS:

Co-founder & project manager of Tehnoarte Association (2021) for manifesting the interference of art, science and technology and mapping the technological art in Timisoara.
Co-founder & project manager of Avantpost Platform (2014) for manifesting and archiving site-specific art in Timisoara.

• MEDIA ART RESEARCH:

2021 MNART ACCESS – DOORS Digital Museum Booster, National Museum of Art Timisoara, Ars Electronica Linz, Museum Booster Vienna & ECSITE Bruxelles

2019 BR41N.IO Hackathon, Ars Electronica Festival, PostCity Linz

2018 International Conference Zip-Scene – Analog and Digital Immersive Environments, Moholy Nagy / MOME University os Arts and Design Budapest

2018 LIGHT EDU Symposium, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning / Order of Architects Timisoara

2018 Elektro Arts Festival: Electroacoustic music, digital photography and new media installation, Matei House / University of Arts and Design Cluj-Napoca

2018 International Conference Stereo & Immersive Media: Photography and Sound Research Universitatea Lusofona / Faculty of Telecommunications, Architecture, Arts and Information Technology, Lisabona

2018 New Media Nova Festival: Wisp Kollektiv Mobile / 3D Immersive Audio Lab, Point Hub București

2017 International Conference Media Art Histories: Re:Trace / Media Art, Science and Technology, University of Danube Krems

2013 International Conference Media Art Histories: Re:New / Media Art, Science and Technology, RIXC / Center for New Media Culture Riga

2011 Workshop REMAKE – Rethinking Media Arts in Collaborative Environments, Fundația AltArt, Brush Factory Cluj-Napoca

2011 Exhibition Possible – Uncertain. Photography, Video and Installation in Timisoara, Timco Halls Timisoara

• ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE:

/ AVANTPOST EXHIBITIONS

19/05 – 14/07/2023, Hiperestezia, Bastion Colț and Posta Mare, Timisoara, Complementary event of  Art Encounters Biennial 2023, https://avantpost.ro/project/hiperestezia/

17/09/2021 – 17/10/2021, Oasis. Green Identity, Stațiunea Tinerilor Naturaliști Timișoara, Collateral event of Art Encounters Biennial 2021, https://avantpost.ro/project/oasis-green-identity/

14/12/2019 – 15/12/2019, From Revolution to Revolutions – ReMind Mapping 89 / MultipleXity / Timișoara 2021 – European Capital of Culture, Corneliu Mikloși Museum of Urban Transport, Timișoara https://avantpost.ro/project/de-la-revolutie-la-revolutii/

4/10/2019 – 22/11/2019, In Vitro Veritas, Timișoara 2021 – European Capital of Culture & T-Act Association, Northern Railway Station Alternative Space Timișoara, https://avantpost.ro/project/in-vitro-veritas/

6/09/2017 – 26/10/2017, UNIVERSALLOWED / Battery Factory, Timișoara, Collateral event of Art Encounters Biennial 2017, https://avantpost.ro/project/universallowed/

06/12/2016 – 20/12/2016, Hidden Agenda. In memoriam Sorin Oncu, Temporary Museum of Contemporary Art, Timisoara, https://avantpost.ro/project/hidden-agenda-mtac/

30/09/2016 – 30/10/2016, Hidden Agenda. In memoriam Sorin Oncu, Scena 9 Residence / NAG București, https://avantpost.ro/project/hidden-agenda/

12/08/2016 – 26/08/2016, Epicenter, Art Museum Arad, https://avantpost.ro/project/epicentru/

24/06/2016 – 06/07/2016, Unseen. Celebrating DADA, Helios Gallery Timișoara, https://avantpost.ro/project/unseen/

03/10/2015 – 31/10/2015, Becoming Connected, Memorial of  Revolution, Timisoara, Event of Art Encounters Biennial 2015, https://avantpost.ro/project/becoming-connected/

10/03/2015 – 22/03/2015, Beyond the Silence, Banat Museum of History Timișoara, https://avantpost.ro/project/beyond-the-silence/

10/10/2014 – 31/10/2014, The Vanishing Point, Timco Halls, Timișoara, https://avantpost.ro/project/the-vanishing-point/

/ OTHER EXHIBITIONS

08 – 28/09/2023, Layers of Reality, Brâncuși Gallery, partnership of Faculty of Fine Arts and Design Timisoara & Romanian Cultural Institute, New York

03/05/2021, FUSION AIR – Convertible Structures, Asociația Qolony – Colonia pentru Artă și Știință, SAC Gallery București

2020 – Zoom In, online exhibition, Diplomatic Art Association Timișoara

2020 – Pandemic Art, online exhibition, Tehnoarte Timișoara

15/08/2018 – 15/10/2018, Baroque II Urban / Woman, All Too Woman, partnership of Meta Spațiu Foundation and Museum of Art Timișoara

21/12/2017 – 23/12/2017, Art in Process – Process in Art, ausstellungsraum.at, Viena
09/09/2016 – 10/10/2016, Triology, Alfa Gallery Arad

07/10/2015 – 10/11/2015, Meeting Point, Contemporary Art Biennial Arad

14/02/2013 – 14/03/2013, Leap, Geam Mat Gallery, Museum of Art Timișoara

26/07/2012 – 05/09/2012,  Sign Out Video Art Festival, Fine Arts Faculty Oradea & Visual Container Milan

2010, Police the Police, Young Artists Biennial / Portfolio Presentation, META Foundation, Știrbei Palace București

12/12/2008 – 30/12/2008, Living in a Cube, Delta Gallery Arad

01/06/2008 – 29/06/2008, Sculpture Today. 4 Sculptural Discourses, Delta Gallery Arad

14/07/2006 – 12/08/2006,  International Sculpture Symposium: National Park Behringen

06/06/2006 – 10/08/2006,  UTOPIA / Contemporary Art Festival, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, West University Timișoara

11/05/2004 – 11/06/2004,  Transfigurations. Full Stop and Start Again. Prospecting the Young Art in Romania, Museum of Art Timișoara

06/10/2003 – 16/10/2003, Night Shot Series, 2/2 Gallery, Timișoara

14/12/2001 – 30/12/2001, MATERIAL / National Contest of Installation, H’Arta Alternative Space, Timișoara

/ ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 – Fundația Herczeg, Gărâna, Caras County

01/11/2007 – 25/11/2007,  AIR / WARMING! Hard Hot Area, Romanian Cultural Institute London

01/08/2007 – 25/08/2007, AIR / Brâncuși -Tribute and Heritage, National Center for Monuments & Centre Pompidou Paris

• CURATORIAL EXPERIENCE:

2023, I, HUMAN by Saint Machine / Baroque Reloaded, BIDBOOK of Timisoara 2023 – European Capital of Culture, National Museum of Art Timisoara

2019, Transborder Exhibition / Consulart #2 Serbia, organized by Diplomatic Art Association and Timișoara 2021 Association – European Capital of Culture, funded by Ministry of Culture and National Identity in cultural partnership with the General Consulate of Serbia at Timișoara

• AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS:

2010 PRO JUVENTUTE Diploma offered by Timis County Council for improving education, 2007 Soroptimist International Award – ‘Brâncuşi – Homage and Heritage’ International Sculpture Competition, Paris, 2002, 2000, 1999 STUDENT OF MERIT Fine Arts Faculty West University Timisoara, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998 Scholarship for excellence

• INTERVIEWS:

2021, Interview with Aura Bălănescu / Robert Șerban, Banatul azi, https://www.banatulazi.ro/sunt-fascinata-de-acest-traseu-care-incalca-in-mod-sistematic-deviza-clasica-muzeala-please-do-not-touch-interviu-cu-artista-vizuala-aura-balanescu/

2020, Interview with Aura Bălănescu / Camp Art mentorship / Art Encounters Foundation, https://artencounters.ro/en/interview-with-artist-aura-balanescu/

2020, Interview with Aura Bălănescu / Sfera / Rareș Moldovan, https://depezona.wordpress.com/2020/06/15/sfera-aura-balanescu/

• REFERENCIES:

2019, 2018, Danube Dialogues, Festival Catalogue, Text by Maria Orosan Telea, http://danubeartfest.org/web/wp-content/uploads/DD2019-katalog.pdf, http://danubeartfest.org/web/wp-content/uploads/DD2018-web.pdf

2018, Artă și tehnologie, Revista Orizont. Text by Maria Orosan Telea, http://www.revistaorizont.ro/arhiva/iulie2019.pdf

2011, Possible – Uncertain, photography, video, installation in Timisoara – exhibition catalogue. Text by Ileana Pintilie,

2011, 4 Discourses about Imponderability. Revista Arta, nr.1. Text by Emil Moldovan,

2008, Living Inside the Cube – exhibition catalogue, Delta Art Gallery, Arad. Text by Ileana Pintilie,

2008, Sculpture Today. 4 Discourses – exhibition catalogue, Delta Art Gallery, Arad. Text by Emil Moldovan,

2004, Transfigurations. Full Stop and Start Again. Prospections about Young Art in Romania – exhibition catalogue. Text by Ileana Pintilie

2001, MATERIAL – Revista Balkon nr. 9, Idea Publishing Cluj. Text by Bogdan Achimescu