On Thursday, 7 May 2026, Petrovc House in Cerklje hosted the opening of the exhibition Circle of Life, which uses art, personal stories and professional insight to open up an important space for reflection on organ donation. The event brought together representatives of the medical profession, humanitarian organisations and patients’ associations, as well as visitors who were moved by the subject from a range of perspectives – human, ethical and existential.
The exhibition can be seen until 30 May during the opening hours of TIC Cerklje (Tourist Information Centre).
Guests were welcomed by Ana Pavec, director of the Cerklje Tourism Board, who stressed that organ donation is a subject we often talk about too little, even though it can affect every single one of us. She extended a special welcome to Dr Jelka Kramarič of Slovenija-transplant, the Institute for Transplantation of Organs and Tissues of the Republic of Slovenia, to representatives of the local Red Cross organisation, to members of the Slovenian Transplant Society (Slovensko društvo Transplant) and to all the visitors.
The exhibition Circle of Life combines professional knowledge, personal experience and artistic expression. It was created in collaboration between Slovenija-transplant, the Slovenian Transplant Society, the Pulmonary Hypertension Society of Slovenia and the Association of Kidney Patients’ Societies of Slovenia. The project premiered on European Organ Donation Day in 2024 and has since been touring various towns across Slovenia.
The exhibition owes its distinctive character to sculptures by the artists Robert Jurak, Izidor Zadravec and Nedim Ahmetovič Mafa. Their works are not merely art objects but carry the stories of people who donated organs and of those who were given a new chance at life through a transplant. The exhibition also features handmade wooden models of farm tools by Mr Stane Hrženjak, whose creativity symbolises life after a transplant and gratitude for a second chance. It was also he who first proposed bringing the exhibition to Cerklje.
The event took place during International Red Cross Week, which is marked every year between 8 and 15 May. On this occasion the world also commemorates the birth of the founder of the Red Cross movement, Jean Henri Dunant. This year’s slogan, ‘Here for you. Always and everywhere. United in humanity’, closely echoes the message of the exhibition.
In the professional part of the evening, Dr Jelka Kramarič presented how the organ donation system works in Slovenia, explained the donation procedures and answered questions about brain death, waiting times and the number of transplants. She also addressed the prejudices that professionals frequently encounter and emphasised the importance of talking openly about organ donation within families and in society at large. Visitors can find full information on the organ donation procedure and answers to frequently asked questions on the Slovenija-transplant (opens in a new tab) website.
A particularly moving part of the evening was the personal stories of organ recipients, who shared with visitors their experiences of illness, the period of waiting and the moment they received the call about a possible transplant. Their testimonies brought home to visitors how profoundly life can change after a transplant and how much the selfless act of donors and their families means.
Visitors can also obtain further information at TIC Cerklje, where a brochure on organ donation and on how to register as a donor is available.
The event closed with the thought that every one of us, through our own decision, can give someone a new chance at life. The exhibition Circle of Life therefore does not just provide information; above all, it encourages reflection, conversation and awareness of the importance of humanity, solidarity and our connection with one another.
