Journalist Liviu Alexa, as you've never seen him before: visual artist. He reinvents "Filcǎi" on the streets of Bucharest

Known for his incisive journalistic investigations, after publishing volumes of non-fiction and poems, Liviu Alexa presents himself to the public in an unprecedented pose, that of a visual artist.  

Cluj journalist Liviu Alexa opens his creative universe in Bucharest with the personal exhibition "Filcǎi", which will be hosted by the Kulterra gallery between April 16, when the opening is scheduled, and May 10. After having an exhibition in Cluj-Napoca, where he established "a record of 1961 paying visitors", as proved by the act issued by the organizer, Liviu Alexa continues his journey through contemporary art with a theme that combines Transylvanian popular culture and mythological symbolism.

From Dalí's inspiration to traditional play "Filcǎi"

The exhibition has its roots in a reflection on art and tradition. Inspired by Salvador Dalí's tarot cards, Liviu Alexa set out to transform a popular Romanian card game, "Filcăi", into an artistic project.

"I don't compare myself to Dalí, but I have the courage of any artist who wants to build his own Path", he confesses.

The opening of Liviu Alexa's exhibition at Kulterra is scheduled for April 16 (Photo: Facebook)

"Filcăi" (or "Filcău", in other areas) is a traditional card game from Transylvania, also known as the "commuter game", with its own rules and terms such as "trump", "huda", "legate" or "master". It is still played in families, but is almost unknown in the rest of Romania. Alexa considers this game "a subcultural artifact" that reflects the resistance to dictatorship and the life of local communities.

Liviu Alexa admits that she grew up playing "Filcăi" in the neighborhood with friends and neighbors, and now she has turned those real experiences into inspiration for her creations.

(Photo: Facebook)

"Filcǎi is my tribute to those who go back and forth, to put a bread on the table, a bridge between symmandic art and life with blisters in the soles", concludes journalist artist.

Journalist Liviu Alexa, visual artist and creator of painted characters

Journalist Liviu Alexa's exhibition transforms the 20 playing cards into paintings that combine tradition with contemporary imagination. Characters such as the Cinderella, the Commuter King, the modern Persephone or the rebellious Little Red Riding Hood come to life in the artistic universe of the investigative journalist Liviu Alexa, where popular symbolism intertwines with humor and social criticism.

"I invite you not to look at these canvases as simple paintings, but as a hand of cards played in the Train of Life, where the stake is not winning, but recognizing one's own dignity in the midst of chaos," he explains.

A card game with old and interesting roots in history

The card game evoked by Liviu Alexa in his paintings has deep roots in history and literature. Inspired by the work of Friedrich Schiller and the legend of Wilhelm Tell, the game symbolizes courage, cleverness and the fight against oppression, evoking the context of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The first playing cards were drawn by the Hungarian painter József Schneider, and the game quickly spread throughout Central Europe.

Liviu Alexa brings the old tradition into the present, reinterpreting the characters to make them relevant to today's audience. Characters such as Cleopatra, Anubis or the Flyer take on modern identities and comedic situations, while at the same time keeping in touch with Romanian mythology and folklore.

Kulterra Gallery in Bucharest, known for its support to young artists and educational projects, is the ideal partner for this project. The "Filcǎi" exhibition is not only a demonstration of artistic technique, but also a plea for the preservation of cultural memory.

Liviu Alexa is a complex personality of the Romanian cultural scene, known equally as an investigative journalist, writer and, more recently, as a visual artist. Born on May 31, 1979 in Bistrita, Alexa began her professional career with training in the teaching field, specializing in French, but chose to follow the path of journalism, where she built a solid reputation through tough investigations and approaching sensitive subjects with an incisive and provocative style.

Throughout her career, she coordinated publications and regional media projects, becoming one among the distinct voices of the contemporary Romanian media.

In addition to the journalistic activity he carries out on the website Strict secret, Liviu Alexa has also asserted himself as an author of non-fiction and poetry, releasing volumes such as "God gave me likes on Facebook" and "How to have an orgasm in 3.5 steps", books in which his brave, sensitive and provocative style brought him recognition in the Romanian literary environment. This attention to detail and the courage to explore social and existential themes were also found in his transition into the world of fine art.

In 2026, Alexa debuted with the personal exhibition "We are the Apocalypse", hosted by the Cluj-Napoca Art Museum, thus marking the transition from the written word to visual expression. His canvases explore symbolic and social themes, inspired by his journalistic background, and quickly attracted public attention, with one of his works being sold for €11,000, a remarkable sum for an artist just starting out in painting.