From 21 June to 1 September 2013, Ljubljana Castle is the venue of a photographic exhibition of the work of Arne Hodalič entitled ‘His 25 years of India and the Mysterious Ljubljanica on the pages of National Geographic’.

Following last year’s exhibition of photography by Steve McCurry, this year Ljubljana Castle is continuing its series of exhibitions on the themes of the beauty and wonders of nature, culture and the nations of the world; this time, with his Indian photography and that of the mysterious River Ljubljanica, it is showcasing Slovene photographer of international renown Arne Hodalič.

This year it is 25 years since Arne Hodalič - outstanding Slovene photographer, visiting professor, member of a range of humanitarian organisations, recipient of domestic and foreign awards for photography, author of numerous exhibitions worldwide, writer, filmmaker, diver and much more - first visited India. On his many visits to this country, he has accumulated in his archives a great many photos which are now to be displayed in the Palatium and Estates Hall at Ljubljana Castle.

“In white clothing they sit motionless on the ground above the Ganges. So lovely to see. Probably murmuring prayers of blessing that the sacred river dictated to their ancestors. They speak their attitudes about eternity, about those mysteries of eternity that tourists from our parts of the world identify only with faraway lands. But behind the scenes of this beneficent tranquillity is hidden the everyday lives of these people, who are forced into forgetting their dreams, if they have ever known how to dream. The holy Ganges carries away the bodies of their loved ones, but they are becoming more and more demanding. The river carries God's affections, but also all the filth of today's civilisation. Images of beautiful, frightening, charming, repulsive India are stuck like lime to the soul of photographer Arne Hodalič”.

These are the words of Meta Krese in the gallery brochure accompanying the part of the Castle exhibition on his 25 years in India.

Arne Hodalič is the only Slovene photographer to have published a story from Slovenia in the American edition of National Geographic, with a report about the archaeological treasures of the Ljubljanica River. This year, National Geographic celebrates its 125th year of publication, which is why we and National Geographic have decided to mark this anniversary with an exhibition of Arne Hodalič’s photographs from the Ljubljanica River, featuring images printed in the pages of this prestigious publication.

The exhibition is open from 21 June to 1 September 2013; daily between 9am and 9pm. Admission is €5, with children, students, pensioners and groups priced at €3.