Hidden giants made from recycled wood: on the trail of a unique art form

Danish artist Thomas Dambo hides giant trolls made of recycled wood in forests and landscapes around the world, inviting adventurers to discover them. These impressive sculptures are made from discarded materials. With his mission "Waste no more", the recycling artist wants to draw attention to sustainability and show that waste can be turned into something beautiful.

Friendly wooden giants lurk in the forests, parks and landscapes of our world, waiting to be discovered by curious adventurers. These fascinating creatures are the work of Danish recycling artist Thomas Dambo, who has been delighting travellers with his giant trolls since 2014.

Thomas Dambo mainly uses recycled wood from building sites, factories and private individuals for his artworks. "I work with communities, companies and individuals to collect waste materials that would otherwise end up in landfill," explains the artist. The collected wood is sorted, cleaned and assembled into new shapes, which ultimately form the giant trolls.

From graffiti to giants

Thomas Dambo's artistic journey began on the streets of Copenhagen, where he worked as a graffiti and street artist. After graduating in Interactive Design from Design School Kolding in 2012, he decided to devote himself entirely to art. "My parents taught my brother and me how valuable it is to protect nature and build our own toys, costumes and tree houses from recycled materials," says the artist in an interview with National Geographic Interview with "National Geographic".

The artist's mission is to avoid waste. "Our world is drowning in rubbish while we are running out of natural resources," he said. "I spend my life showing the world that you can make beautiful things out of waste." His goal is to build 1,000 trolls from recycled materials around the world to raise awareness of sustainability.

Art that makes you think

Thomas Dambo's recycled art has not only an aesthetic but also an ecological dimension. His works encourage viewers to think about their own use of resources and waste. "I want my art to inspire people to be creative and think about how they themselves can contribute to a more sustainable future," says the artist in an interview with The Guardian Conversation with "The Guardian".

The choice of trolls as an artistic motif is no coincidence. These figures are deeply rooted in Nordic mythology and often symbolise a close connection to nature. By creating them from waste materials, Dambo combines tradition and modernity and creates a message that appeals to people of all ages. His trolls are designed to make people think: What could we achieve if we changed the way we use our resources?

"I want to combine beauty with rubbish and give people the feeling of going on a journey of discovery when they look for my works," says the artist. Most of his trolls are hidden in natural environments - now in 20 countries.

The following video gives a deeper insight into Dambo's way of working and his impressive sculptures:

If you want to go in search of the hidden giants yourself, you can download the Troll Map on Thomas Dambo's website website. It lists the locations of trolls waiting to be discovered in countries such as Denmark, the USA, Australia and Mexico.