Thomas Dambo, or “The Troll Whisperer,” is a Danish visionary artist and storyteller known for his larger-than-life troll sculptures. He pushes the boundaries of imagination, bringing fantastical beings to life from recycled materials like scrap wood, twigs, pallets, and more.
More than 120 of Thomas Dambo’s trolls roam the landscapes of Denmark, Australia, China, Canada, South Korea and beyond. Not only do his trolls capture the hearts of many, but they also inspire adventure as people explore the outdoors to find them. They also carry a profound message of sustainability and environmental consciousness.
Now, he recently unveiled his latest troll beings in the U.S.
“I want people to know that trash has value. My trolls do that and also help me tell stories, like the legends I grew up with,” says Thomas Dambo in a statement. “In nature, there is no landfill. Nature is circular, everything has a meaning, and everything is recycled.”
Working with local tribes
Thomas Dambo’s sculptures “speak” about the landscape and history of their location; every sculpture has a story. For example, he collaborated with the Snoqualmie and Muckleshoot while working on traditional Coast Salish territories in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Canada. He specifically worked with an exchange artist from the Muckleshoot tribe and another artist, John Halliday (also known as Coyote).
“Dambo brings messages to the world about taking care of our planet and not being wasteful,” Coyote told the Seattle Times. “Our tribe embraces the same values, so it was a natural collaboration. We need to take care of our Mother Earth.”
Trolls and mythical creatures are also deeply rooted in Scandinavian folklore. Thomas Dambo’s trolls pay homage to these stories, but with his unique twist. He remembers his mother singing a song about a troll to him when he was young. So he infuses his sculptures with distinct personalities and stories.
A sense of connection with the landscape
“Jack Lumber,” found in his native Denmark, was Thomas Dambo’s first sculpture. He installed it for a Danish cultural festival in 2014, which propelled his career. After that, he received requests worldwide for more installations. He says he makes distinctive features, like the head in his Denmark workshop, then installs the rest onsite with his team and local volunteers.
In an interview with GeekWire, he says: “No two are alike, of course. I’ve done one that’s standing up before, and I’ve done one that’s sitting down before. But it’s in another type of nature. It’s another type of scrap wood that we get our hands on. It’s another team, another culture, another country, another language. That makes it interesting.”
In Puerto Rico, for example, he installed a sculpture called “Hector El Protector.” Hector sat at the water’s edge with a rock in hand, ready to hit anyone invading the Puerto Rican island of Culebra. However, it was destroyed by Hurricane Maria in 2017, but he returned to rebuild it. Instead of the rock, Hector holds a solar-powered lantern that can guide boats toward the show during storms.
In the U.S., he recently finished making “Rita” in Colorado. Rita lies in an old town, Victor, where gold was discovered in the late 1800s. She has a sad story where she sleeps only to wake up and find her landscape covered with holes. Now, she’s made it her mission to cover these holes and keep the people and nature safe.
Other recently released trolls in the U.S. include “Pia the Peacekeeper,” which sits in the woods on Bainbridge Island. He also unveiled “Bruun Idun,” which plays songs to orcas with his flute in West Seattle, and “Ole Bolle,” a nosy troll, peering into the top of a cabin in Portland, Oregon.
The treasure hunt
One of the captivating aspects of Thomas Dambo’s artworks is his penchant for creating treasure hunts in forests, parks, and other remote locations. He encourages people to explore nature while embarking on a quest to find his sculptures.
These treasure hunts have brought communities together and awakened a sense of wonder in people. The trolls have also put unknown places on the map.
“We find Thomas’ trolls magical, and we felt like it would be a wonderful experience to be a part of,” Alyx Vu told Rocky Mountain PBS. “They’re whimsical, magical, and our family is big on trying to find magical experiences.” Alyx traveled from Texas to Colorado to help build Rita.
A message of sustainability and eco-consciousness
Thomas Dambo’s trolls are not just works of art, but enchanting gateways to a world of imagination and eco-consciousness. With every sculpture he makes, he reminds us of the magic that can be found in the natural world and our responsibility to take care of it. His whimsical creations continue to bring happiness and adventure to people of all ages while advocating for a more harmonious relationship with our environment.
