Monday, 15 December 2025 Exhibition at the UP: Life in Goričko – Illustrations of Animal Species
On 11 December 2025, the Armeria Palace of the University of Primorska (UP) hosted the opening of the exhibition Life in Goričko: Illustrations of Animal Species by conservation biologist Manja Tišler, a UP alumni and graduate of the Conservation Biology study programme at UP FAMNIT.
Through 15 illustrations, which form part of a series commissioned by the Goričko Landscape Park, the author presents individual animal species that contribute to the rich biodiversity of the Goričko region. The full series of illustrations offers a broader insight into the diversity of these remarkable animal species, their habitats, and the conservation activities that shape the region’s rich ecosystem.
The author of the exhibition, Manja Tišler, describes her work as a search for balance between science and art. She has nurtured a love of nature and art since childhood, and her academic path at UP FAMNIT opened the door to in-depth knowledge of natural sciences. This has enabled her to create visually appealing and scientifically accurate materials. She draws inspiration from nature, and through her illustrations expresses her dedication to it, while also encouraging the preservation of precious natural heritage.
This series of illustrations, created with watercolours and coloured pencils, is not her first. She has extensive experience collaborating with various clients, and her illustrations adorn numerous informational boards throughout Slovenia.
You can find them along the Tromejnik forest educational trail by Lake Ledava, on the wooden boardwalk above the salt meadow in Ankaran near St Nicholas, at the shell mound in Ankaran on St Catherine’s Hill, in the Slovenian Museum of Natural History, in the Ljubljansko Barje Landscape Park along the themed trail Pot na Mah, which won first place in the “Best Themed Trail” category in 2024, and many others.
One of her illustrations also adorns the postcard and stamp of the Blue Crab, issued in honour of the 60th anniversary of the Piran Aquarium, which operates under the auspices of the UP Science Centre.
Scientific and natural history illustration has greater significance than one might think. Its roots stretch back to prehistory, when people depicted animals and natural phenomena on cave walls. For centuries it has played a key role in documenting nature, anatomy, astronomy, and other scientific fields. Despite advances in photography, illustration still holds an important place today, as it highlights and interprets processes and the smallest details that photography often cannot capture.
You are cordially invited to visit the exhibition at Armeria Palace UP and view the illustrations – works inspired by the landscape mosaic and the intertwining of natural and cultural features of the Goričko Landscape Park – on display until 14 January 2026.
