Artist Built Giants Made from Recycled Wood for People To Find in the Wilderness
As we go about our everyday routines, we tend to forget that a whole world to discover exists right at our fingertips, just past the roads that have already been paved for us. How many natural wonders have we yet to uncover off the beaten path?
One Danish artist is using his craftsmanship to give us a reason to go exploring.
Thomas Dambo uses recycled wood to construct larger-than-life wooden trolls. The giants, which are incredible to behold, are placed in otherwise inconspicuous locations in the wild.
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“The project wants to bring art out of the museum, show the beautiful and often overlooked nature spots, and at the same time give an exciting and different experience,” reads Dambo’s website.
When Dambo started constructing his sculptures, he chose to build them in places the public was unlikely to frequent.
“Many of the locals thought it was weird that I chose to build the sculpture away from the popular locations,” Dambo said in a YouTube video posted to his channel.
“But in the time between my visits, it turned out that a lot of people had visited this hidden place to see the sculpture as well as the beautiful nature surrounding it.”
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Dambo has gone on to construct similar sculptures all over the world. You can even find a few in the United States.
In Copenhagen, you can embark on an enchanting “treasure hunt” to find the “Six Forgotten Giants.” You can find maps that point out their locations on Dambo’s website, as well as information about how each sculpture was constructed.
If you’re in the mood for a more challenging scavenger hunt, you can simply rely on the poems engraved on each sculpture for clues as to the whereabouts of the others.
The Forgotten Giants are so lifelike, they could easily be characters in their own fairy tale. Each sculpture is distinct, featuring its own facial expression, name and apparent personality.
Among the trolls in Copenhagen are Teddy Friendly, Little Tilde, Sleeping Louis, Thomas on the Mountain, Oscar Under The Bridge and Hilltop Trine. Many of the sculptures’ creative names are inspired by real-life volunteers who helped the giants come to life.
The giants are large enough to climb on, inviting children to clamber up their legs and pose for a breathtaking snapshot. The sculptures seem to bring out everyone’s urge to explore and have fun.
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“As humans, we often have a way of choosing the beaten path and the main roads,” Dambo said. “So when the municipalities of West Copenhagen contacted me about a project, it seemed natural to make something which could get people out and explore.”
Dambo’s idea seems to be working. A quick search on social media reveals that the sculptures are incredibly popular among adventurers of all ages.
The next time you’re looking for something to do, consider exploring the quiet nature around you. You never know what treasures you might find!
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