'Hornby Uintotherium'

The plaque on Canada’s Hornby Island concerns a remarkable creature known as the Hornby Uintotherium. You won’t find this creature in any biology textbook though, or even local folklore. That’s because it only exists in the imagined world of Kcymaerxthaere.

An art project created by Eames Demetrios, Kcymaerxthaere is made up of a series of plaques and other markers around the world. Each of these markers honors a story or event from a parallel universe that, according to Demetrios, “co-exists to some degree with ours.” Most of these installations are bronze or stone plaques inscribed with stories but some are larger, even entire buildings. As of 2021, there are more than 140 sites spread across six continents and 30 countries.

Within this imagined world, the Hornby Uintotherium is one of the smallest of the Uintotheria. They are usually quite docile, although occasionally a stubborn one can do some damage. Uintotheria look somewhat like rhinoceroses, according to lore, but they have strange knobs and protrusions on their heads. Some people say they are shy because of how they look. 

Don’t miss the Denman Island Ferry searching for the Uintotheria—they are definitely quite elusive.  The marker should be easier to find.