Eisbergfreistadt ("Iceberg Free State") documents the creation of this historical imaginary principality, which is inspired by an actual incident in 1923 when a mammoth iceberg ran aground in the Baltic port of Lubeck, towering over the town and terrifying the populace. Many decided (not unreasonably) that the iceberg caps were melting and the apocalypse was coming. This event inspired gloomy cafe songs and penny dreadfuls, even a deck of playing cards.

Many notegeld and inflationary currencies were issued for the Eisbergfreistadt. Manifestos were published, and posters put up declaring the state's new ideals, citizenship requirements, etc. Products started appearing: butter, lard, chocolate (of surprisingly high quality) etc, all stamped with the Eisbergfreistadt logo. Although the creation of the Eisbergfreistadt is an actual historical incident, it is not clear to what extent it actually existed.

The celestial city depicted on the iceberg seems to owe as much to the spires of Freidrich, as to the halls of ValHalla - it is a place built by Rilkean angels, too perfect for human reality, that can only be intuited by the artist. The worldly goods of the Stadt are therefore in the context of a cruel joke ("you take art and I'll take spam"). Interestingly these apocalyptic fears proved prophetic - Lubeck was the first German city to be fire-bombed in World War II - and, despite being rebuilt, is in danger of flooding due to global warming.

Nicholas Kahn and Richard Selesnick, born in New York City and London, respectively, have been collaborating since 1986. They have exhibited internationally, and their work is included in many notable collections including the Smithsonian Institution; Addison Gallery of American Art; Brooklyn Museum; Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University; Los Angeles County Museum of Art Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and Philadelphia Museum of Art, as well as many private and corporate collections.

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