I want to take trash and turn it into something
that will open people’s eyes and minds.
We shouldn’t throw the world out—
then we’ll have a world with no mountains, no woods.
Thomas Dambo, the troll sculptor
Thomas Dambo, Danish artist living and working in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a well-known recycling art activist and environmental artist.
Thomas Dambo creates his art using recycled materials—reclaimed wood, old pallets and other debris, fallen branches and twigs—proving that discarded materials are not worthless, but can be transformed into beautiful, meaningful works of art.
This Copenhagen-based artist transforms recycled materials into giant figures, creating trolls*
A few days ago, our Arboretum concluded its exhibition featuring twelve trolls by Tomas Dabmo. All of these sculptures could be found throughout the Arboretum's gardens and along its trails. Measuring two to three meters tall and affectionately described by the artist as "Little Trolls".
*In early Scandinavian folklore, a troll is a gigantic, monstrous creature, sometimes possessing magical powers. Hostile to humans, trolls lived in castles and haunted surrounding neighborhoods after dark. Exposure to sunlight would cause them to crack or turn to stone. In later tales, trolls are often human-sized or smaller, resembling dwarves and elves. They live in mountains, sometimes steal human maidens, and can transform and prophesy. Britannica
Wilde - Pose while I draw you for my book of strange beasts
Valle - Snzooooore...UH! I was having a relaxing dream about dung beetles. Close your eyes and try out nature with your other senses
Bignut - Little huuuuman come heeere. I want to catch you just for a minute so you can look around and marvel at nature.
Lilnut - Can I catch you in my net? I won't eat you - I only catch you and release (like you should to if you find an interesting insect)
Bogo - Come here little human! I'm collecting interesting thoughts about nature
Kirse - Look around, clever human! What could you copy from nature's designs? a leaf roof, a spider bridge or a shell shield?
Poppy - I thought these pocket stars would be delicious as you humans love them so much, but they're all bitter and crunchy...
Hasse - You look good this way up. Try sneaking up on nature from new angles. Look upside down. Roll down a hill. Make friends with bug.
Birch - Nature is bigger and smaller than I thought...
Taks - Real treasure's not gold. Just look about and you'll discover much more exciting things!
Anja - I'm finding out so much crazy stuff about human folk!
Larke - Just pretend I'm not here and I'll watch while you turn trash into treasure! Shhh... I stay still so I don't scare off anyone feeding the earth with compost magic.
A few years ago, the Arboretum hosted the exhibition also devoted to the art of recycling.
The author of the works presented at that time was Sayaka Ganz, a Japanese sculptor who uses recycled plastic in her works.
And here are two small examples of the art of recycling;
* how useless jewelry was turned into a small works of art,
* how various waste materials were used to create the building's wall decoration.
Arboretum website, Asheville, NC
Map showing the troll trail in the Arboretum