I’ve been a lover of nature, culture and art for as far back as I can remember, and the older I get the more deeply I fall in love with each. So, when I discovered an artist that has been marrying these concepts along with sustainability and upcycling, I became obsessed, and who would’ve ever guessed that this obsession would lead me to, well, searching for trolls!
In April 2024, we were in Springfield, IL camping, looking for a short trail to do outside with the kids to kill a little time before we could check into our next campground. Matt found a park with these gorgeous troll statues – he knows me well and knew I would love these. So, we took a little side excursion to the Lincoln Memorial Garden to spot two trolls made of natural materials located in gorgeous natural settings.
These trolls actually were inspired by Thomas Dambo’s art installations around the globe and built by a local group of students. Although they’re faux Dambo works, they were still absolutely incredible and definitely started a fascination in me for these works of art created from, well, garbage to create some of the most beautiful and whimsical statues I’ve ever seen.
More About Thomas Dambo and These Art Installations
Thomas Dambo is a Danish sculpture artist who combines art with a passion for sustainability to create trolls that are on display in natural areas around the globe. He lives by the mantra of “waste no more” and has proven that through his works of art made with recycled barn wood, plastic waste, and even larger materials like a recycled car.
In addition to the works of art themselves being upcycled or recycled, each of these trolls have a little tale or piece of lore attached to them. They tell tales of how the earth “used to be”, how we can save the planet and just be better to the earth. In some places there are even interactive elements with these trolls. I love to read these little pieces of lore while looking at the trolls. They’re great opportunities to teach in addition to looking at art – especially for my littles. It’s like a fairy tale come to life.
Why These Trolls Speak to Me
I’ve always been a lover of the fantastical. I was a girl brought up in the age of Harry Potter, Ella Enchanted and was exposed to the Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings at a young age too. I have always found fantasy to be an escape.
Then, as I got older, I gained an interest in the folklore of other countries. The beauty of indigenous tales, pagan stories, and religious lores of how things came to be and the way those things tie to the way we see the world around us – shaping culture, language, and our relationship with nature. The Dambo trolls tie into this in a huge way.
I also have an interest in and appreciation for the earth around me – I would say that time in nature is probably my greatest passion after being a mama. My interest extends to both seeing it and protecting it for myself, for my children, and for generations to follow. So, I love the element of these works that are made with recycled and found objects. I love making something beautiful out of literal trash and not adding to the waste. Thomas Dambo says it beautifully when he said, “On a mission to save the world from drowning in trash.”
I also love that the location of all of the trolls (at least, as far as I know) are natural spaces. Whether that’s a greenspace in a park, in the middle of the forest, in an arboretum or a botanical garden. They seem to fit so beautifully with their natural surroundings.
Lastly, I love the fleeting nature of these works. The trolls are dismantled when they are no longer safe because of decomposition and then they’re just gone. I think it’s a poignant reminder that nothing lasts forever and makes seeing these more exciting in a way.
Which Trolls Have I Seen?
On my recent father/daughter hiking trip to Kentucky with my dad, we went to Bernheim Arboretum. The grounds there are incredible, there are activities of all kinds and they have THREE Dambo statues. These beauties are called the Forest Giants, which were commissioned in 2019. We had the pleasure of hiking to see all three of them: #40 Little Nis, #41 Little Elina and #42 Mama Lou Mari. I love the way that each of them are so unique in their look and their “actions”. The art is so beautifully made that you feel you get a sense of the personality of each giant. Little Nis is staring at his reflection, sitting at the edge of Olmstead Pond, Mama Lou Mari is laying back and pregnant – which I love as it’s such a powerful part of being a woman, and Little Elina who is making a design with rocks, holding one in her hand still.
After falling in love with those trolls, I discovered that it would be a short detour on our upcoming trip to see another troll in Breckinridge, Colorado. So, Matt very kindly agreed to take an hour out of our day to go see another giant troll. This time it was #43 Isak Heartstone This troll is tucked back in the woods at a little trailhead. His arm is wrapped around a tree and he looks so natural sitting there. I think he may be my favorite of the trolls we’ve found so far.
Lastly, earlier this month, my mom and I went to Memphis to the Memphis Botanic Garden for the sole purpose of seeing their Thomas Dambo exhibit that’s temporarily on display there. There, we saw 6 trolls: #107 Rosa Sunfinger, #108 Basse Buller, #109 Ibba Pip, #110 Kamma Can, #111 Sofus Lotus, and #112 Ronja Redeye.
Because of the interactive nature of the map and the ease in which you can look up where each of these trolls are around the world. I know that each of my road trips (and international travels) in the future will include a quick scroll of the Troll Map to see if I can have the opportunity to find another beautiful Dambo Troll. I’m currently up to ten Dambo Trolls and cannot wait to see more!
Have you seen any of Thomas Dambo’s statues? If so, are you as obsessed as I am? And which ones are they? I’d love to hear which ones should be at the top of my list!
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