A visit at Nimis

Last Monday was a first for me as I visited Nimis at Kullaberg Nature Reserve in Skåne together with Maria. This is certainly a place I wouldn´t have gone to myself so I owe this visit to Maria.

So what is Nimis?

It is a “building” or an art installation that Lars Vilks begun to construct in July 1980. It is mainly constructed with wooden plank and branches held together by nails. They have done a rough estimation and they say that over 160.000 nails have been used in the construction of Nimis.

I did ask myself why when I was there as I couldn´t comprehend why someone choose to build anything on this remote shore. It wasn´t an easy walk to get there so it has taken a lot of effort to build Nimis.

Shoreline 130506

Why I ask?

Now I have done a little research and know that Lars Vilks did this as his revenge on the ocean just after he had a near death experience drowning at sea. This doesn´t make it easier to understand but it is his explanation to why.

I am glad that I have visited the place, over 40000 people go there every year, and I understand the hardship that the construction must have been but to carry on for over 30 years is plain madness to me. There have been a legal processes due to Swedish Building regulations and that is maybe why he has continued with his work there. The government threatened to tear down Nimis but Lars Vilks won the court process.

Kullaberg Nature Reserve is certainly a place I will visit more than once. The spring had just come with carpets of Wood Anemone under the Beech trees and there where many hiking trails to explore if you just had time. The landscape wasn´t flat like many other areas in Skåne as you had a more fluid landscape here combined with the steep cliffs along the northern shoreline, where Nimis is situated.

I can gladly recommend everyone to visit Nimis if you are nearby but I would advise you to go there when its dry, because of the steep climb down to the shore. You surely need a pair of shoes with a good grip if you go there when its wet.