There has never been a person in Croatia who simultaneously attracted and repelled as well as shocked and fascinated people as much as Ivica Čuljak, Better known as Satan Panonski. This punk performer, poet, writer, and painter is a unique figure emerging from the second-wave punk scene. Some see him only as a mentally ill and impulsive person with little to no artistic value. However, behind these aesthetics of shock, self-harm, and eccentric behavior, there was an incredibly thoughtful, poetic being, which was later shown in Ljubica Anđelković Džambic’s book, “Satan Panonski’s body of resistance – auto-destructive body art in Croatian performing arts and practices” (Rough Translation), published in 2019.
Self-destruction artists have existed since the 1960s, but they have often been singled out because it’s tough practice and bodily harm is often not considered art. However, in art, there is this aspiration or tendency to go beyond the norm that is determined for us by mainstream culture. The self-destructive performance is perhaps the only artistic act that, in those few seconds of injury, through a strong, uncontrolled manner, is a moment of “freedom”. Satan Panonski instinctively felt this power of self-harm on stage, but he also described it very openly as a personal need, because his poetry, despite the brutal images he formed, was not enough to get out of himself all the despair, frustration, and anger he felt. By the act of “jumping out of his skin”, he achieved a sort of understanding that helped him, at least for a little while. He created poems that combined that shock and punk aesthetic alongside his music.
He wrote a lot about his creativity. Although shrouded in mystery, Panonski labeled himself as a performance artist rather than as a punk singer, yet punk was the only place where he could be accepted and where such different identities were allowed. Despite his erratic behavior on stage, he wasn’t as frantic, impulsive, and thoughtless as one might think. As shown in, “SATAN PANONSKI: DOKUMENTARAC” is described as “a Serbian student film featuring the best footage of Panonski’s “Hard Blood Shock” Body Art performance.” follows 24 hours in Panonskis life, showing a live performance, psychiatric hospital, and his apartment. During the live show, Panonski reads many poems of his before sticking 4 safety pins into his arm. This self-harm skewed many people from finishing watching the performance, yet Satan was not done yet. He smashed a large alcohol bottle upon his head, before drinking his own blood.
Many say that Satan Panonski is the “Croatian GG Allin.”
Kevin Michael “GG” Allin, who was born Jesus Christ Allin, was an American punk rock musician who performed and recorded with many groups during his career. He’s best known for his controversial live performances, in which he often defecated on stage and assaulted audience members. In the video, GG Allin – Austin, TX 18 May 1993, the rockstar is shown jumping into the audience and punching his loyal fans as well as joining the moshpits. The comparison spawns from the sheer shock factor which happened during their live performances.
Panonski was found dead on January 27, 1992 (aged 31) in Vinkovci, Croatia. A little over a year later, GG Allin passed away from a heroin overdose on June 28, 1993 (aged 36) in New York City, U.S. Him, and some fans were walking around the city after a live performance before reaching one of Allin’s friend, Johnny Pukes’ house. GG acquired heroin from another party member, which he later overdosed on. Weirdly enough, Allin’s funeral took place on July 3, 1993, in his native New Hampshire, at the St. Rose Cemetery, Littleton. At his funeral, Allin’s bloated corpse was dressed in his black leather jacket and trademark jock strap. Allin’s funeral became a low-level party where his friends and fans danced around his corpse.
https://www.europavox.com/news/outsider-satan-panonski-croatia/
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DBYdq_w6LA-Y&psig=AOvVaw1HcVeElY1lN5fhUBhgcUhw&ust=1684807487131000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjRxqFwoTCNC3q6Lrh_8CFQAAAAAdAAAAABBP
http://darhiv.ffzg.unizg.hr/id/eprint/11160/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GG_Allin
https://allthatsinteresting.com/gg-allin
