Danish recycling artist brings his giant trolls indoors for a first museum exhibition

Thomas Dambo, a Danish artist known for his recycled troll sculptures, is presenting his first museum exhibition at Arken Museum of Contemporary Art near Copenhagen. The exhibit, titled *The Garbage Man*, features fairy-tale-inspired trolls made entirely from discarded materials like wooden pallets, whiskey barrels, and old furniture. Dambo’s work, spanning 190 sculptures across 19 countries, often blends storytelling with environmental messages, encouraging viewers to reduce waste rather than simply recycle. The exhibition opens on Sunday and runs until November 29, showcasing new trolls inspired by Dambo’s teenage friends—a group of mischievous characters who ‘break into’ the museum and fill it with trash-based art. One piece, *Dyna Dee*, rests on a 6-meter mound of discarded clothing, symbolizing overconsumption. Dambo emphasizes that his work is less about recycling and more about discouraging unnecessary purchases, stating, ‘It’s not really about recycling, it’s about you probably have enough clothes in your cabinet to wear for the rest of your life.’ Dambo’s trolls have gained global fame since he began creating them in 2014, starting with two sculptures at a Danish music festival. By 2016, he had hidden six trolls in Copenhagen’s wooded areas, sparking a viral sensation. Now, with nearly 200 trolls worldwide—including *Long Leif* (13m tall) in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and *Little Lisa* in a German forest—his art serves as a treasure hunt, drawing around 5 million annual visitors. The Arken exhibit marks a shift from outdoor installations, allowing Dambo to experiment with materials like electronics and cardboard that wouldn’t survive outside. The artist’s trolls often reference Scandinavian folklore but carry modern themes, using humor and whimsy to critique waste culture. Dambo’s goal is to inspire visitors to reflect on their consumption habits, blending art, activism, and storytelling. The exhibition’s closing on November 29 will mark the first time his work is confined to a museum setting, offering a new perspective on his decade-long project.