Early Life and Artistic Beginnings Alwar Balasubramaniam, known affectionately as Bala, was born in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India, in 1971. From a family steeped in artistic tradition—his father was also an artist—Bala’s formative years were marked by exposure to the visual arts from a young age. This early influence instilled within him a profound appreciation for materiality and form, shaping his lifelong dedication to sculptural p…