By TERRY CHEA, Associated Press
WOODSIDE, Calif. — Amidst forests worldwide, a peaceful army of enormous wooden trolls is on a mission to demonstrate to humans how to live sustainably without harming the planet.
Renowned Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo and his team have crafted 170 troll sculptures, utilizing materials like discarded wooden pallets, old furniture, and wine barrels.
Twelve years since initiating the “Trail of a Thousand Trolls” project, Dambo’s creations can be found in over 20 countries and 21 U.S. states. In Colorado, notable trolls include Isak Heartstone in Breckenridge and Rita the Rock Planter near Victor, south of Cripple Creek.
Annually, Dambo and his team craft around 25 new trolls, some reaching heights of up to 40 feet.
“I believe that we can create anything from everything,” expressed Dambo from his farm outside Copenhagen. “We are overwhelmed with waste. Yet, we also understand that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.”
An exhibit titled “Trolls Save the Humans” featuring six sculptures is currently showcased at Filoli, a historic estate encompassing 650 acres of forests and gardens in Woodside, California, approximately 30 miles south of San Francisco.
“They encourage us to reconnect with the earth and nature,” remarked visitor Jeannette Weederman, accompanied by her son at Filoli in July.
Each of Dambo’s trolls possesses a distinctive personality and narrative. At Filoli, troll Ibbi Pip constructs birdhouses, Rosa Sunfinger plants flowers, and Kamma Can creates jewelry from discarded items.
“Every troll has a tale to share,” noted Filoli CEO Kara Newport. “They inspire individuals to contemplate their own narratives, envisioning the creatures that might inhabit their forests and fostering a connection to living beings in nature.”
While Dambo’s trolls harbor disdain for humans due to their wastefulness and environmental degradation, the mythical beings at Filoli maintain a more hopeful outlook on humanity. They aspire to educate people on environmental preservation.
“They aim to rescue humans by teaching them how to be better stewards of the environment — humans who cherish rather than destroy nature,” stated Dambo, a 45-year-old poet and former hip-hop artist. “They hope to shield them from the older trolls’ wrath.”
Hidden in forests, mountains, jungles, and grasslands across Europe and North America, as well as countries such as Australia, Chile, and South Korea, Dambo’s trolls are predominantly constructed using local resources and assembled on-site by his team of artisans and volunteers.
“My exhibition attracts four and a half million visitors annually worldwide, all derived from trash with the aid of volunteers,” highlighted Dambo. “This serves as a significant testament to why we should recycle rather than discard items.”
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