The experiment(s) of the Kingdoms of Elgaland-Vargaland (KREV) has recently been summed up in a wonderful book called exactly that: The Kingdoms of Elgaland-Vargaland. It’s a 300 page monster of an overview of basically all the things that have happened since the creation of the Kingdoms back in 1992. What a long, strange trip it’s been!
“With effect from the 14th of March 1992, we are annexing and occupying the following territories: 1. All border frontier areas between all countries on earth, and all areas (up to a width of 10 nautical miles) existing outside all countries’ territorial waters. We designate these territories our physical territory. 2. Mental and perceptive territories such as: the Hypnagogue State (civil), the Escapistic Territory (civil) and the Virtual Room (digital). On the 27th of May 1992 at 12 noon GMT, we proclaimed the state of Elgaland Vargaland.” (Signed by founders/Kings Leif Elggren and CM von Hausswolff)
Had this initial message been a simple one-off provocation, few would have paid much attention. But it wasn’t. Since then, the expansion of the kingdoms has been relentless. With over 20 embassies around the world, over 1000 KREV passport-carrying citizens, and hundreds of art-actions and publications, KREV is now a living, breathing entity carrying on in what could be called artful dada-politics.
The entire book is a journey into manifestos, dispatches, photographs, people, writings, stamps (!), exhibitions etc and it’s a delightful experience to see how much has actually been achieved. So, no, KREV has not yet been granted membership of the United Nations, but it appears the founders and all the citizens aren’t really bothered by that. There are still so many new border regions, hypnagogue states, escapistic territories and virtual rooms to be dealt with first.
The Kingdoms of Elgaland-Vargaland, Cabaret Voltaire/Dada Zürich & Art and Theory Publishing, 2016.
