King Charles III’s House in Viscri presents “FRAGILIS TERRA”, an artistic project by sculptor Virgil Scripcariu. Open until 25 August 2026, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the relationship between humanity and nature, the memory of places, and the fragility of the balance we build around us.
Born from a dialogue between two communities with strong identities—Viscri, one of Transylvania’s most renowned villages, and Piscu, a historic centre of Romanian ceramics—the project explores how cultural heritage can become a source of inspiration for both the present and the future.
“I am increasingly concerned with the tension that human beings generate in relation to nature and to one another, and with the fragile balance between good and evil that humanity must learn to manage. In recent years, my work has explicitly and consciously reflected on this theme. From Maternity—my sculpture in front of the Anglican Church in Bucharest—to the Lovinescu–Ierunca Sculptural Group, followed by The Triumph of Good, all these works contain representations of this universal duality. What Fragilis Terra brings as a new direction is my interest in ceramic techniques. I am experimenting with portraiture and painting on ceramics, introducing new versions and nuances into my compositions.”
— Virgil Scripcariu
The exhibition unfolds as a journey through four interconnected sections. Visitors first encounter a series of sculptural compositions, including Adam and Eve, created especially for Viscri, and Requiem, a visual meditation on passage and transformation. This is followed by a series of fired-clay portraits inspired by residents of Viscri and Piscu, as well as people the artist has met in different parts of the world, forming a genuine map of human diversity.
The exhibition continues with ceramic plates, mugs, and pitchers created in collaboration with potter Csaba Balint. Virgil Scripcariu intervenes on these objects through painting and drawing, exploring new forms of artistic expression. Together, these sections transform clay into a contemporary artistic language that speaks of memory, fragility, and continuity.
“FRAGILIS TERRA is a remarkable exhibition not only because of the strength of the works—many of them created by Virgil Scripcariu specifically for this place and this moment—but also because of the way it connects two communities and two projects united by the same mission: Viscri and Piscu, King Charles III’s House and the Piscu School Museum & Workshop. It is a project that reflects the very spirit of Viscri—a place that may appear isolated, yet has become a meeting point for people, ideas, and perspectives from around the world. The exhibition speaks of heritage not as something frozen in the past, but as something living, which must be understood, cared for, and carried forward.”
— Raluca Grigore, Administrator of King Charles III’s House in Viscri
FRAGILIS TERRA is organized by King Charles III’s House in Viscri and the Piscu School Museum & Workshop. The project is supported by REGINA MARIA Health Network and developed in collaboration with the Ilfov County Centre for Culture, Viscri 125, and Modernism.ro.
About Virgil Scripcariu
Virgil Scripcariu is a sculptor who graduated in Fine Arts in 2003, studying under the renowned sculptor Vasile Gorduz. Deeply influenced by his mentor’s personality and artistic vision, he embraces an art form centred on the human figure. Figurative composition is his preferred means of expression and reflection on the world.
His practice explores the relationship between sculpture, architecture, and urban space. He also regularly creates object-based installations that convey messages of social engagement.
In 2003, he was awarded the Theodor Aman Scholarship by the Romanian Government for Visual Arts, enabling research residencies in Italy, France, and Syria. In 2007, he represented Romania at Europalia in Brussels. In 2008, he joined the team led by architect Șerban Sturdza at the Venice Architecture Biennale, contributing both objects and conceptual development.
He has participated in design exhibitions such as Holon Design Week (Israel, 2013) and Romanian Design Week (2013–2023), and has exhibited at international art fairs including ViennaFair (2014) and Art15 London (2015).
His solo exhibitions have been presented in Bucharest (2005, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2022), Iași (2005, 2019), London (2015), Chișinău (2021), Batalha, Portugal (2024), and Viscri (2026). In 2023, he received the National Sculpture Award from the Union of Visual Artists of Romania.
His sculptures and design works can be found in public spaces across Bucharest, Iași, Timișoara, Brașov, and Tulcea.
Since 2006, Virgil Scripcariu has lived and worked with his family in Piscu, a former pottery village near Bucharest. Together with his wife, Adriana Scripcariu, an art historian, he has developed cultural and educational initiatives dedicated to the local community and to the promotion of Romania’s cultural heritage.
In 2021, they inaugurated the Piscu School Museum & Workshop, a private cultural hub that they co-founded. Virgil Scripcariu developed the museum’s exhibition concept and serves as curator of its temporary contemporary art exhibitions. The broader cultural project initiated in Piscu in 2006 received the prestigious Europa Nostra Award in 2022.
About King Charles III’s House in Viscri
Opened to the public in 2022, King Charles III’s House in Viscri is a remarkable example of responsible restoration and the preservation of Transylvanian heritage.
Its exhibitions highlight His Majesty’s long-standing commitment to traditional architecture, crafts, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and his deep connection to both Viscri and Romania.
Visitors can enjoy a wide range of cultural and educational experiences, including thematic exhibitions of art, photography, and traditional crafts; the Transylvania Florilegium collection of books and botanical art; and a permanent exhibition dedicated to traditional roofing tiles and coverings.
The site also features an educational garden for children, a creative learning centre, a shop showcasing products by local artists and producers, and information about projects supported by The King’s Foundation, including summer schools of architecture and the “Ambulance for Monuments” heritage conservation programme.
Since its opening, the house has welcomed more than 100,000 visitors, with the majority of its profits being reinvested in support of the local community.
