Remains – To live and die In Slovenia
“Nothing in my life has ever made me want to commit suicide more than people’s reaction to my trying to commit suicide.” – Emilie Autumn
Clothes of Darko Špenko are hanging in the attic of his house. Darko, a mechanical worker committed suicide with a gun he modified. He suffered severe health problems and worsening economical situation.
Among two million Slovenians residing in a small European country, one would have a difficulty finding a person who does not have any kind of relation to the issue of suicide.
The first time since records of suicides began – 40 years ago, suicide count dropped below 400 in 2014. Exactly 338 recorded suicides took place in Slovenia in 2014.
325 were men and 63 women.
Not far in the past, in a year 2013, there were 448 recorded suicides – many more than the year previous and years before. General services, industry and construction – the leading economic fields in Slovenia were severely hurt during Eurozone crisis in 2000, resulting in 558 recorded suicides. Yet the issue remains a taboo in society.
About 80% of people who end their own life are male in their middle ages, mostly those who lost business and financial safety during the economic crisis which continues in Slovenia. NGOs have been involved in suicide prevention activities for over two decades, offering psychological assistance as well as help lines.
Some of the cases remain unsolved, veiled as a traffic accidents, while others are clearly suicides. Most of the suicides are committed by hanging or jumping from great heights or as a consequence of a murdering a family member and eventually committing a suicide.
In the times when Slovenia was part Yugoslavia, a notorious “Suicide Club” existed. Members of the secretive club enlisted for a suicide. When a predecessor on the list committed suicide it was turn of the next one on the list.
– This is an ongoing project researching and documenting the suicide issues in Slovenia. –
A modified gun with a shell lays on a table in the Forensic Institute of Slovenia. The gun was used to commit suicide with a shot in a head.
Miša, Darko’s daughter cleans up a courtyard at Darko’s house. He was mechanical worker and collector of Volkswagen Golf cars. Darko committed suicide with a gun he modified. He suffered severe health problems and worsening economical situation.
Miša, Darko’s searches through a bag of stickers Darko used to collect and give to her when she was a child. Her father committed suicide with a gun he modified. Darko suffered severe health problems and a worsening economical situation.
“Hello, how are things? I am having a good time, what about you? How is Bučko? Will you come to visit me. Evenings are the best times for me because we dance a lot, sing and also a lot of other things we do. Goodbye. ”
A postcard young Miša addressed to her father Darko, while she was on a holiday at the seaside.
Workshop where Darko was working as a mechanic. He was fan of Volkswagen Golf cars and collected spare parts. Now Miša, Darko’s daughter occasionally works there: repairing cars and washing machines her boyfriend. Darko committed suicide with a gun he modified. He suffered severe health problems and worsening economical situation.
One of the last cigarette boxes Darko smoked before committing a suicide. He was a mechanical worker and collector of Volkswagen Golf cars. Darko committed suicide with a gun he modified. He suffered severe health problems and worsening economical situation.
An insulin injection kit Darko used to fight his diabetes is found at his house. Darko suffered severe health problems and worsening economical situation. Ultimately he committed suicide with a gun he modified.
Miša inspects items at the attic of her father’s house. Before he committed suicide, Darko lived alone.
Miša, Darko’s daughter displays his monthly ticket for a bus Darko used to get to his highschool.
Darko’s primary school grade report along with his monthly ticket and a portrait which Miša, Darko’s daughter collected items from his house after Darko committed suicide with a gun he modified.
A shaver and a mirror Darko used for a personal hygiene. Miša, Darko’s daughter has collected items from his house after he committed suicide with a gun he modified.
Miša displays a photo of one of the guns her father Darko owned. After he committed suicide Miša searched his house and found one of the guns. Darko committed suicide with a gun he modified.
Missing person report published in a local newspaper. Darko was reported missing after he committed suicide, as a massive snowfall has covered his body on the location where he committed suicide by a shot to the head. He was found after 4 days on a river bank where he used to fish and collect wood.
A fishing kit Darko used when he was fishing at river bank near his house.
A riverbank where Darko spent time fishing and collecting wood in his spare time. He committed suicide while sitting next to the same tree which he sat when fishing.
A police envelope of the evidence. Case of Darko’s death was closed after forensic inspection – the report is concluded as suicide. (“Samomor)
Clothes of Darko’s friend who now occasionally resides in his attic are left to dry. Some of the Darko’s items still remain in the house.
A gun Darko modified and used for suicide is illuminated with the forensic light in the Forensic Institute of Slovenia.