HISTORIC VERNISSAGE AT THE MEDIEVAL FORTRESS OF ORADEA AND THE KÁROLYI CASTLE IN CAREI
At the invitation of the International Association “Euro Foto Art” (AIEFA) and Summit Agro Romania, the President of the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP), the renowned photographic artist Riccardo Busi (Italy), arrived in Bihor County on Monday, 15 June 2026, to attend the opening of his personal exhibition entitled “The Art of the Moment (1)”.
Travelling from Cluj-Napoca International Airport, accompanied by Prof. Dr. Eugen Moritz, the distinguished guest was welcomed in Chișcău by the President of AIEFA, photographic artist Ștefan Tóth István AFIAP, ESFIAP, together with Morvay Szabó Edina EFIAP, Director of the EFA Patronages Department, and photographic artist Szabó Géza AFIAP. Thanks to the support of the Apuseni Natural Park Administration, headquartered in Sudrigiu, the distinguished photographers had the opportunity to visit and photograph the spectacular Bear’s Cave, one of Romania’s most valuable tourist and speleological attractions. In the evening, Riccardo Busi took part in a workshop organised in his honour, in a setting dedicated to the exchange of experience and international artistic dialogue.
Tuesday, 16 June 2026, began with a courtesy visit to Oradea City Hall. In the absence of Mayor Florian Birta, who was away on official business, the FIAP President was received by the city manager, Sebastian Lascu. The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere and provided an opportunity for discussion on the role of photographic art in promoting cultural values and strengthening international relations in the field of visual creation. Also attending the meeting were Prof. Dr. Eugen Moritz and photographic artist Ștefan Tóth István AFIAP, ESFIAP, President of AIEFA—personalities who actively contribute to the development and promotion of photographic art both in Romania and internationally.
A particularly moving moment of the visit was the tribute paid to the memory of the late Mezey Lajos, regarded as the first photographer of Oradea and the founder of the city’s first photographic laboratory. As a sign of profound respect for his cultural legacy, the President of FIAP made a commemorative visit to the places that preserve the memory of this great pioneer of photography in Oradea. Before noon, Riccardo Busi visited the building that once housed the first photographic laboratory in Oradea, a place rich in history and symbolism for the local artistic community. The programme continued at the funerary monument of Mezey Lajos, located on the Alley of Personalities in Rulikovszky Cemetery, where his remarkable contribution to the development of photographic art in the city on the banks of the Crișul Repede River was evoked. The commemorative monument, erected at the initiative of the International Association “Euro Foto Art” with the support of Oradea City Hall, stands as a gesture of gratitude to the man who paved the way for artistic photography in the city and left an invaluable cultural legacy to future generations.
The highlight of the visit took place at 6:00 p.m. at the EFA Exhibition Centre in the Oradea Fortress, in the “Matei Stegerean” Gallery, where the opening of the personal exhibition “The Art of the Moment (1)”, signed by the renowned photographic artist Riccardo Busi MFIAP, EFIAP, HonEFIAP, was held. The event was hosted by Dr. Eng. Patricia Știrbu, President of Summit Agro Romania, the Balkans and the Republic of Moldova, who underlined the importance of this cultural moment and the special partnership between the company she leads and AIEFA.
On this occasion, a message from the Mayor of Oradea, Florian Birta, was also conveyed:
“It gives me great pleasure, even in my absence, to express my appreciation for the organisation of this vernissage and for the constant effort to bring art closer to the Oradea community. For Oradea, cultural events represent an important part of our identity. They bring life to the city, create valuable encounters, and connect us to what authentic artistic dialogue means at an international level.”
The President of FIAP then thanked AIEFA for the invitation and highly appreciated the association’s activity at both national and international level, highlighting its contribution to the promotion of photographic art and to strengthening cultural ties among artists from all over the world.
The most symbolically charged moment of the evening was the awarding of the distinction HonEFIAP to photographic artist Ștefan Tóth István AFIAP, ESFIAP, who thus became the first among the 38 directors of FIAP Exhibition Centres worldwide to receive this recognition, and the first photographic artist from Romania to be granted such an honour.
In his speech, the President of AIEFA underlined:
“We are living a historic moment. The President of FIAP is present in Oradea not only in his official capacity, but also as a remarkable photographer and a good friend of mine and of the photographic community of Oradea. The fact that 650 exhibitions have been opened here speaks for itself,” declared the President of AIEFA.
As a sign of appreciation for his entire activity, he then presented Riccardo Busi with the “Carol Pop de Szathmári – Szathmári Pap Károly” Lifetime Merit Medal and the Diploma of Honorary Member of AIEFA.
The event had special significance, marking the opening of the 650th photographic art exhibition organised at the FIAP Exhibition Centre Oradea–Romania, Euro Foto Art Gallery. After the vernissage, the renowned photographic artist Riccardo Busi presented the digital slideshow entitled “Along the Road”.
The atmosphere of the evening was further enriched by musical moments of high artistic value. During the vernissage, the Oradea violist Thurzó Sándor József and pianist Réthi-Gáll Brigitta Éva performed works by Giuseppe Verdi, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Achille Simonetti, and “Din drâmboaie” by Hilda Jerea. At the same time, Alexandrina Chelu-Schorr and Florian Chelu-Madvea, representatives of Rock Filarmonica Oradea, offered the audience a recital dedicated to Italian composers.
The event remained in the memory of the participants as a historic moment for the photographic community of Oradea and Romania, reaffirming the international prestige enjoyed by the International Association “Euro Foto Art” and its constant contribution to the promotion of authentic cultural values.
The second part of the exhibition project organised by AIEFA, Summit Agro Romania, the “Gróf Károlyi” Foundation for the Promotion of Cultural Tourism, and the “Vasile Vénig László” Photoclub was opened at the Károlyi Castle in Carei, featuring the exhibition entitled “The Art of the Moment (2)” and the digital slideshow “My Asia.” The musical moments of the vernissage were offered by the Carmina Renascentia Ensemble from Carei.
The exhibitions may be visited in Oradea until 26 June 2026, on working days between 08:00 and 16:00, and in Carei until 3 July 2026. Admission is free of charge.
In an initiative designed to bring art closer to the community, the exhibited works will also be projected on the screens of Oradea’s public transport vehicles, based on the partnership between AIEFA and OTL SA. In this way, artistic photography will accompany the city’s passengers on their daily journeys, transforming every route into a genuine cultural experience.
Exhibited photos
