All created artworks are characters from the Universe of Eterna Phto’Horma.

The following is a short blurb of the entire story:

In the year 3000+ AD, humanity has evolved into an advanced civilization where people routinely live up to 200 years. Earth is now part of a thriving Galactic Federation, engaging with various extraterrestrial species. Dr. Vasili Bacovski, a brilliant 64-year-old scientist, is haunted by the tragic loss of one of his five children to progeroid syndrome - a rare rapid aging disease. This loss, combined with watching his wife and remaining children age, drives him to obsessively pursue the secret of immortality.

Through recurring visions, Vasili discovers Phto'Horma, a mysterious world promising eternal life. These visions provide him with fragments of scientific knowledge that guide his research. In his pursuit, he conducts forbidden experiments, splicing human DNA with that of immortal jellyfish. His test subjects transform into grotesque jellyfish-like humanoids, leading to tremendous suffering. These experiments violate the Vocta laws, established after the devastating Purity Wars - a conflict between humans and rebellious synthetic humanoids who were originally created as immortal slaves.

When his illegal research is exposed, the powerful Rorgan family intervenes, offering him protection and resources in exchange for developing an immortality treatment for their dying patriarch. Vasili, unable to perfect the serum in time and prevent its horrific side effects, makes a desperate gamble. He administers the experimental treatment to the family leader, knowing he has only weeks before his deception is discovered.

Racing against time, Vasili orchestrates an elaborate escape plan. He places his family in stasis pods and strikes a deal with a Synthetic - an advanced AI being fused with a spacecraft. In exchange for freedom from its mechanical prison, the Synthetic agrees to pilot them to Phto'Horma, as only these artificial beings possess the capabilities for interstellar flight.

Pursued by Rorgan assassins, Vasili and his unlikely ally reach Phto'Horma. There, he discovers an ancient laboratory with technology beyond his comprehension. A mysterious floating fountain, activated by his blood, reveals itself as an AI interface created by "the first immortals." The AI explains that Phto'Horma serves as a beacon, calling to those whose minds are attuned to receive its signal across light-years of space.

In this alien laboratory, Vasili finds a unique marine organism that could be the key to creating a perfect immortality serum without monstrous side effects - or so the ancient machine claims. But in this pursuit of eternal life, nothing is quite what it seems...

Ana-Maria Plăvănescu stands as a distinctive voice in contemporary surrealist art, redefining the genre through a biomechanical, slightly grotesque, and visceral aesthetic. Her most notable exhibition, titled Red from the Rotten Flower (”Roșu din putreda floare” in original), showcased her unconventional approach by combining visual art with a hypnotic poetic recital in an immersive café-bar setting. Her work has been featured in the international magazine Scryptic (issue 1.4, 2018; pages 86-90 as Ana Butnaru), marking her entry into international art publications.

Training and Education

Ana-Maria’s artistic journey began in elementary school with family encouragement, leading to formal training at the prestigious Octav Băncilă Art High School in Iași, painting section. She later deepened her studies at George Enescu University in Iași, obtaining both bachelor's and master's degrees in painting. This comprehensive academic foundation spans over a decade of dedicated artistic practice.

Style and Technique

Working primarily in a surrealist style with biomechanical and slightly grotesque influences, Ana-Maria’s art shows clear inspiration from masters like H.R. Giger (designer of the original Xenomorph from the famous Alien [1979] directed by Ridley Scott) and Zdzisław Beksiński. Her technical evolution reveals a fascinating trajectory from oil-based impasto techniques to her current preference for acrylics, which allows her to achieve the intricate details characteristic of her work. Her artistic style seamlessly blends surrealism with biomechanical elements, creating a unique visual language.

Theme and Inspiration

At the heart of her work lies the meticulously crafted Phto'horma Universe, with every single artwork featuring characters from this unique world such as Oxpht, Sveopht'Ox, and Vo'pht. Each piece serves as a window into this elaborate universe, creating bridges to realms both unsettling and hypnotic. The viewer is invited to step beyond the conventional and be absorbed by sinister landscapes, half organic, half mechanical. Currently, only a snippet and a short blurb of the story is available for reading below each displayed artwork. But a longer version of the story is in the works.

Artistic Influences

While her work shows clear influences from masters of dark surrealism and biomechanical art, Ana-Maria has developed her own distinctive visual vocabulary. Her style can be likened to biomechanical art while simultaneously being a contemporary extension of classical surrealism, setting her apart in the contemporary art scene.

Vision for the Future

Ana-Maria remains committed to expanding the Phto'horma universe, promising increasingly complex narratives and visual experiences. Each canvas brings her closer to shaping a realm as disturbing as it is fascinating.

"I want to continue making art that moves the soul within."

Notable Exhibitions

• Solo Exhibition: "Roșu din putreda floare" (Red from the Rotten Flower) - Multimedia Installation with poetic recital
• Multiple group exhibitions during academic years at George Enescu University
• Featured Artist in Scryptic Magazine, Issue 1.4 (2018)