This project is inspired by one of my favorite poets, Ana Blandiana, and her seminal volume

„A treia taină” (The Third Secret, 1969).

This collection marks a profound lyrical maturation for the poet, as she transitions from the innocence of childhood explored in her earlier volumes to a deeper, more grave awareness of life's mysteries, death, and love as the supreme enigma. Her poetry here is strikingly clear yet profoundly layered, featuring simple images that conceal vast abysses—precisely the kind of verses that linger in memory and are often transmitted orally with subtle variations.

Poetry illustration remains one of my favorite forms of creative work: it is rich in metaphors and complex imagery, translating literary figures of speech—such as anaphora, personification, and symbolism—into visual language. The opening anaphora that inspired this entire project served as its true catalyst, encapsulating the essence of existential mystery, transience, restlessness, and dreamlike fluidity that permeates Blandiana's early mature phase.

In working on these illustrations, I found deep support and context for my own research: the process felt like an embrace of a wise, intelligent, and deeply empathetic feminine thread—a guiding intelligence that resonates through Blandiana's voice and invites reflection on the hidden layers of existence.

A selection of these illustrations is presented here, each one an attempt to visually echo and extend the poetic depth of „A treia taină” into a contemporary visual dialogue.