Aleksandar Babic: Artist, Diplomat, Businessman — Empathy, Art, and Lessons from a Turbulent World
- The cultural diversity of the Balkans
- The coexistence of communist and religious influences in his home
Podcast
Overview
In this episode of The Brand Called You, host Ashutosh Garg speaks with Aleksandar Babic—artist, diplomat, and businessman—whose life journey is shaped by the turbulent history of the Balkans and enriched by years of global diplomatic service.
The conversation explores themes of identity, humor in adversity, family history, the role of empathy in society, and the power of art to provoke reflection and healing.
00:00:49- Growing Up in Belgrade
Aleksandar reflects on:
- The cultural diversity of the Balkans
- The coexistence of communist and religious influences in his home
- Yugoslavia’s Non-Aligned Movement and its modern parallels
- How these experiences shaped his worldview and artistic identity
00:03:37- Early Creative Influences
He shares how:
- Comics like Stripoteca and Alan Ford sparked his imagination
- Sequential art became a lifelong passion
- Artists like Joe Sacco, Guy Delisle, and Art Spiegelman influenced his narrative style
00:05:20- Diplomatic Life in Myanmar & Thailand
Key insights include:
- Humor as a survival tool in conflict zones
- Encounters with officials, communities, and local artists
- Parallels between Southeast Asia and the Balkans
- Maintaining human spirit in adversity, referencing Life Is Beautiful
00:09:27- The Shelf of Sorrow Project
Aleksandar explains:
- The emotional encounters that inspired the project
- Why he features sites like Auschwitz, Jasenovac, Tuol Sleng, Srebrenica, Gaza, and more
- His method of choosing locations based on personal emotional connection, not historical hierarchy
- His belief that each shelf represents a unique story and learning opportunity
00:12:08- My Name Is Peter Babich
Highlights include:
- His family’s WWII experiences: concentration camps, forced conversions, and survival
- Creating the graphic novel after a request from his daughter’s school
- Presenting it to U.S. high school students
- Having the work archived in the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
RESOURCES:
Learn more about Aleksandar Babic: LinkedIn
Enjoyed this podcast?
That clash—between freedom and identity—still drives his art. Aleksandar Babic seeks to bridge orthodox Christianity and communism, weaving history and philosophy into his work. Share your thoughts in the comments and spread these insights with friends!
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Profile
- The cultural diversity of the Balkans
- The coexistence of communist and religious influences in his home
- Yugoslavia’s Non-Aligned Movement and its modern parallels
- How these experiences shaped his worldview and artistic identity
