Principality of Wy

Last updated

Principality of Wy
Unrecognized micronation
Area claimed Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
Claimed by Paul Delprat
Dates claimed15 November 2004–present

The Principality of Wy is a claimed micronation in Australia that is located in the Sydney suburb of Mosman.

Contents

In 2004 Paul Delprat claimed to secede from Mosman and develop his own micronation in response to a lengthy dispute with the local council government. After 20 years of seeking planning permission, he lost his appeal in 2013. [1]

History

In 1993 the Delprat family applied to build a driveway to their house over an unbuilt road, leading to a long-running battle with the Mosman council that they eventually lost. [1] Eventually, on 15 November 2004, [2] Paul Delprat claimed to secede from Mosman, although not from Australia, claiming that he was a prince of the Principality of Wy. [3]

The community has been noted by international and local news outlets, including Sky News, [4] The Daily Telegraph UK, [5] The Sydney Morning Herald , [6] The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) , [7] The National (Abu Dhabi) [8] and the Kuwait Times . [9] However, there is still no local, national or international recognition of the community.

Delprat attended the first Australian conference of micronation leaders on Dangar Island in 2010, [10] [11] which was sponsored by Macquarie University. [10] [12] [13]

Contribution to the arts

The community is an active patron of art and sponsors an art prize. [14] Representatives from the principality have also been invited to open exhibitions [15] [16] [17] and give talks [18] in the local community and throughout the state. Art reviews and articles have appeared in art society newsletters [19] and are published on the Principality of Wy website in support of local and renowned artists. [20] Private exhibitions are held within the principality by invitation and public exhibitions are open at the embassy in Georges Heights, featuring works by new and emerging artists.

Wy is a character in the Japanese web comic, manga, and anime series Hetalia: Axis Powers about anthropomorphic nations and micronations. [21] Wy is depicted as a young girl of small stature who has been stated to be artistically gifted. On 13 September 2010, Prince Paul of Wy posted a painting on his blog of the character. [22] While there was originally no direct reference to Hetalia in the post itself, it is likely that he was informed of the character's existence. Later, the post was updated naming the series itself.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micronation</span> Self-proclaimed political entity

A micronation is a political entity whose representatives claim that they belong to an independent nation or sovereign state, but which lacks legal recognition by any sovereign state. Micronations are classified separately from de facto states and quasi-states; they are also not considered to be autonomous or self-governing as they lack the legal basis in international law for their existence. The activities of micronations are almost always trivial enough to be ignored rather than disputed by the established nations whose territory they claim—referred to in micronationalism as macronations. Several micronations have issued coins, flags, postage stamps, passports, medals and other state-related items, some as a source of revenue. Motivations for the creation of micronations include theoretical experimentation, political protest, artistic expression, personal entertainment and the conduct of criminal activity. The study of micronationalism is known as micropatriology or micropatrology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Principality of Hutt River</span> Micronation in Australia, 1970–2020

The Principality of Hutt River, often referred to by its former name, the Hutt River Province, was a micronation in Australia, proclaimed on 21 April 1970 when farmer Leonard Casley declared his farm to be a sovereign state, the "Hutt River Province". He claimed to have seceded from Australia, which occurred during his dispute with the authorities concerning wheat production quotas. A few years later, Casley began styling himself as "Prince Leonard" and granting family members royal titles, although he did not include the word "principality" in the official name until 2006. In 2017, Casley's claim to rulership was taken over by his son Graeme, who dropped the claim to sovereignty on 3 August 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands</span> 2004–17 putative micronation in Australia

The Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands was a putative micronation established as a symbolic political protest by a group of gay rights activists based in Australia. Declared in June 2004 in response to the introduction of a government bill to the Australian Parliament in May 2004 that codified the heterosexual definition of marriage, the Kingdom was founded on Australia's external overseas territory of the Coral Sea Islands, a group of uninhabited islets east of the Great Barrier Reef. The Kingdom was dissolved on 17 November 2017 following the "Yes" vote in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey legalising same-sex marriage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julian Ashton</span> Australian artist (1851–1942)

Julian Rossi Ashton was an English-born Australian artist and teacher. He is best known for founding the Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney and encouraging Australian painters to capture local life and scenery en plein air, greatly influencing the impressionist Heidelberg School movement.

John Beard is a Welsh artist and painter born in Aberdare, Wales, now based in Sydney, Lisbon and London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sculpture by the Sea</span>

The Sculpture by the Sea exhibition in Sydney and Perth is Australia's largest annual outdoor sculpture exhibition. This exhibition was initiated in 1997, at Bondi Beach and it featured sculptures by both Australian and overseas artists. In 2005, a companion event was established at Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia featuring over 70 artists. In 2009 it was announced that Aarhus in Denmark would host the first Sculpture by the Sea exhibition outside of Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Delprat</span> Australian artist

Paul Ashton Delprat is an Australian artist and as of 2023 the principal of the Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney's oldest continuous fine art school. His work is represented in state, municipal and university galleries as well as numerous private collections.

Roland Wakelin was a New Zealand-born Australian painter and teacher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Ashton</span> Australian artist

Sir John William Ashton, OBE, ROI was a prolific Australian Impressionist artist and director of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales from 1937 to 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Kmit</span>

Michael Kmit was a Ukrainian painter who spent twenty-five years in Australia. He is notable for introducing a neo-Byzantine style of painting to Australia, and winning a number of major Australian art prizes including the Blake Prize (1952) and the Sulman Prize. In 1969 the Australian artist and art critic James Gleeson described Kmit as "one of the most sumptuous colourists of our time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Klarfeld</span> Australian sculptor (born 1978)

Linda Klarfeld is an Australian sculptor whose bronze and granite works of art focus on the human figure. Her work ranges from small miniature portrait busts to three meter high, larger than life size pieces. She has sold her work both privately and through public auction.

Lucy Culliton is an Australian artist, based in Hartley. She is known for her paintings of landscapes and still life.

Karna Maria Birmingham was an Australian artist, illustrator and print maker. She was best known for her numerous illustrations of children's books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julian Ashton Art School</span>

The Julian Ashton Art School was established by Julian Ashton in 1890 as the "Academy Julian", has been an influential art school in Australia. For a long time it was known as the Sydney Art School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonard Casley</span> Prince of Hutt

Leonard George Casley, better known as Prince Leonard, was the founder of the self-proclaimed micronation, the Principality of Hutt River, within the Australian state of Western Australia. He governed Hutt River from 21 April 1970 until his abdication in February 2017, at a coronation ceremony that placed his son Prince Graeme on the throne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Principality of Snake Hill</span> Australian micronation

The Principality of Snake Hill, also known simply as Snake Hill is a self-proclaimed independent sovereign state (micronation), located near Mudgee in New South Wales, Australia. Snake Hill has roughly hundreds of citizens, and claims land the size of Monaco. Snake Hill claimed independence on 2 September 2003, and Princess Paula claimed it was a right to secede, citing "The U.S., as you well know, seceded from England in 1776, It’s a remedial right, a last resort."

Joyce Vera Mary Ewart (1916–1964) was an Australian painter, graphic artist, and teacher. She was a finalist for the Archibald Prize in 1943, 1944, 1945 and 1948; for the Wynne Prize in 1943, 1945 and 1946; and the recipient of the Mosman Art Prize in 1948. Her works are held by the Art Gallery of New South Wales and have been included in several retrospectives and exhibitions. She mounted solo exhibitions at the Macquarie Galleries in 1942, 1943, 1944, 1948 and 1953. She founded the Workshop Art Centre at Willoughby, NSW where the main gallery bears her name and which offers the Joy Ewart Scholarship for Year 10 students and the Ewart Art Prize for works by Centre members. As Ewart included lithography and etching presses in the art centre, it was able to host The Print Circle collective of women artists.

Quinton Tidswell was a New South Wales–born Australian artist who was known for his etchings and works on paper. For many years Tidswell was a resident of the state of Victoria and the Castlemaine Art Museum hold a selection of his work. The National Gallery of Australia hold fourteen of his works. His father was an architect working in Sydney and Tidswell’s important works on paper are often of now demolished architecture in and around Macquarie Street, Sydney and of the historic and early settlement of Windsor, New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PoliNation</span> Conference of micronationalists

PoliNation is a reoccurring summit or conference of micronationalists held sporadically since 17 April 2010. Each summit usually has academics, authors and journalists present.

References

  1. 1 2 "Prince of Wy Paul Delprat loses driveway court battle". Daily Telegraph . 17 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "Lamb Island residents see chance of nationhood arrive". The Guardian . 18 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "'Why, Willoughby begins with a W, Wy begins with a W, it's all quite wonderful my dear!'". Daily Telegraph. 14 April 2017.
  4. ↑ Sky News article
  5. ↑ "A selection of the world's micro-nations". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 22 February 2023.
  6. ↑ Sydney Morning Herald Article from Sydney Morning Herald about the micronation meeting in 2010
  7. ↑ The Daily Telegraph
  8. ↑ The National Article about the recent summit of micronations held on Dangar Island in Sydney, Australia
  9. ↑ "Kuwait Times - Leading English Daily in Kuwait". Kuwait Times. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Don't like the country you live in? Start your own". Otago Daily Times . 6 May 2010.
  11. ↑ "Meeting of the Mini Me brigade". The Sydney Morning Herald . 17 April 2010.
  12. ↑ "Delegates make it regal at summit". The National . 19 April 2010.
  13. ↑ "Micronationalism Conference". Macquarie University .
  14. ↑ Principality of Wy website Archived 26 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine Archy Wyld Art Prize
  15. ↑ "Official site of Principality of Wy » Art Reviews Court Circular » Artist Joshua Smith at the Royal Art Society". principalityofwy.com. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  16. ↑ Eva Breuer Website Archived 14 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Prince Paul opening an exhibition for Samuel Wade
  17. ↑ Portrait Artists Australia website Archived 1 June 2014 at the Wayback Machine Prince Paul opened the annual exhibition in 2007
  18. ↑ City of Sydney. "William Dobell - A sincere artist". nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  19. ↑ D H Lawrence Society of Australia newsletter Article written by Prince Paul for the D H Lawrence Society of Australia
  20. ↑ "Official site of Principality of Wy» Art Reviews". principalityofwy.com. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  21. ↑ Wy Hetalia Archives
  22. ↑ Principality of Wy promotes world peace
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.