The history of Nimis and Arx
When Vilks started to work with hammer and nail at Nimis his ideas were rather vague, but he had in mind to make a meetingplace between theory and practice. The place chosen, the north side of the Kullaberg Nature Reservate, was remot and he could work for almost two years before his piece was discovered.
At that time (in 1982) the County Council reacted and oredered the object that they defined as a building to be removed immediately. Vilks appealed the sentence and started a huge lawsuit which was referred to the swedish Government. The departement of agriculture confirmed that Nimis would be removed. Vilks´project was also reported to the police and went on to the district court of appeal and the supreme high court. Vilks lost in the end and was fined.
Nimis was never removed because it was sold to the german in 1986 the New York artist Christo became the new owner. During these fighting years Nimis expanded to a huge piece. More than 100 meters of lengths, towers about 15 meters and 25 tons of wood, Nimis became an impressive sculpture, attracting thousands of visitors who climbed down the slope to explore the construction.
In 1985 unknown persons set fire to the work and 15 tons of wood disappeared. The artist rebuilt it and made it even bigger and stronger. Today (1996) Nimis consists of 150 meters of sculpture and has a weight of about 70 tons.
In 1991 Vilks started another project next to Nimis: Arx (lat. "fortress"). This time he was using concrete and stones, the concrete to be carried down to the place in a rucksack. He was rather unsure of what he was doing when he met the publisher David Stansvik who claimed that the whole piece was a book in stone. This quite unconventional book made of 150 tons of concrete and stones was published at the publishing house Nya Doxa in August 1993. The book has 352 pages and some texts and signs. The edition ordered is 50 ex, but so far (1996) only two and a half of the books are ready.
Also this piece was taken to court by the authorities and 1995 the Supreme High Court sentenced the artist to pay fines. The quite high sum was financed by the artist as he sold the pages to the public and thus gave Arx about 300 owners. At the moment the authorities are working on a way to remove Arx. (March 1996).
Developement of Nimis and Arx 1996-99
After 1995 and many trials things were calmed down for some time. The County Administration Board (CAB) was tired after many years battle in vain. They handed over the matter to the landowner, Gyllenstiernska Krapperupsstiftelsen. "The landowner must take his responsibility."
The creation of Ladonia in June 1996 made a new context to the pieces. They became National Monuments.
Just a few weeks after this great event the landowner decided not to do anything. They considered as being a trustee giving support to culture and science they shouldn't get involved in demolishing an artwork. The case was sent back to the CAB. In July 1996 a private person reported the case to Justitiekanslern (Solicitor General). In November he reproved the CAB for doing a bad job in the Nimis and Arx case. They had to renew their efforts.
In December 1996 an unknown vandal made an attempt to destroy the 15 m "Tower of the Winds" with a motorsaw. The Tower was provided with nailtraps and obviously the attacking man was not pleased with the condition of his motorsaw afterwards. (This tower fell, shall we say peacefully, in a storm in April 1997 and had to be rebuilt.)
It might have been the same person or persons who set fire to another tower "The Function of the Ascendent" in February 1997. The tower burnt down, a loss of about 10 tons of wood. It took about a year to rebuild it. A few days later (what a coincedence) the CAB turned to the enforcement officer and applied for removing Nimis, Arx 1 and Arx 2. The enforcement officer supported the case but it was appealled to the district court. In July the artist won the case, the district court declared that the artist was the wrong man for the matter, the owners of Nimis and Arx should be the ones to blame. (Nimis is still owned by Christo and Arx 1 and Arx 2 are owned by hundreds of different persons.) The CAB went to the court of appeal but was denied access to further developement of the case. They finally (?) gave up in January 1999.
Arx 2 was made ready during 1998 and that concluded the pieces concerning new construction. The work to keep them in good conditions goes on continually.
In January 1999 a new work was declared to be an artwork by the artist. This was Omfalos, a small pillar (1,60 m) by stone and concrete. The piece was not made by the artist but he conferred its status as art. The sculptor was the Ladonian Feidias Laidippes who preferred to remain anonymous. The Landowner presented himself in March, handing over the case to the police and the enforcement officer. The chairman of the trustee, Count Ehrensvaerd had launched the Count-battle. Rather suddenly the interest of supporting art and science was gone. The beast had shown its proper self. Already in April the Enforcement Office said yes to the removal of Nimis, Arx and Omfalos. But this decision wasn´t worth much. Again a verdict was transferred to the district court. The police started its investigation of the artist in August. The outcome is still not known (Oct 99).
The court from Malmö visited Ladonia for an inspection of the artworks. This was a beautiful and dramatic piece of art, one could call it some sort of theater. The verdict was announced in September 1999. The Landowner lost most of the case. Nimis and Arx were to left due to the fact that the owners had not been contacted. Omfalos should be removed.
This verdict was appealled (when you are reading this I do understand that we have some enormous repetitions concerning appeal) by the count. Probably nothing more will take place in the courtcase in this millenium.