'Nymark (Undiscovered Island)', Alex Hartley

Hartley searched for and discovered a small island that had been revealed by retreating glaciers. Encased in ice for thousands of years, no other had ever stood on it. The artist called the island Nymark, meaning ‘new land’ in Norwegian.

‘We surveyed the island taking longitude and latitude readings for all features and extremities. A cairn was built and in the age old style, a claim note was placed inside a tin-can and this in turn was inserted into the cairn. The note stated, in both English and Norwegian, notice of our claim on the newly revealed land. Upon our return to the mainland, our new island will be charted and I will submit it for inclusion in all subsequent maps. The land will be named and registered.

Nothing has yet been ruled out; annexation, independence, tax haven, wildlife sanctuary, shortlet holiday homes or time-shares. Postcards will be printed and a major architectural competition will be launched. Engineers will be consulted as to how best to keep all the mud together and prevent any shrinkage of our island.’

This collection of documents charts Hartley’s quest to claim and name the island. Please take some time to explore the many documents now associated with Nymark.

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