Troll hunters can spot the sculpture on the left lounging by a lake in Roskilde, Denmark. The smiling troll on the right sits next to a cottage made of scrap wood in Odense, Denmark.

Courtesy of Thomas Dambo

STANDARDS

Common Core: RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.7, WHST.6-8.4, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.7, W.6-8.4

NCSS: Culture • People, Places, and Environments • Production, Distribution, and Consumption

BIG PIC

From Trash to . . . Trolls?

April 2022

An army of towering trolls is on the loose in Denmark! Standing about 20 feet tall, they lurk in outdoor spaces across the European country, ready to surprise anyone who crosses their path.

But these fairy-tale giants mean no harm. They are sculptures made from recycled materials by eco-artist Thomas Dambo. Known for turning trash into treasure, Dambo uses everything from chunks of plywood to old fences to build art exhibits around the world.

In 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic halted Dambo’s work in Puerto Rico, he returned to Denmark, where he’s from. That’s when he came up with the idea to create a troll scavenger hunt there.

With help from volunteers, Dambo built 10 massive troll sculptures out of discarded items. Then he hid the works of art in secluded locations around Denmark.

Dambo titled the project “The Journey to the Giant Troldefolkefest,” which means troll folk festival in Danish.

You don’t have to travel to Denmark to see all 10 trolls, though. Visit trollmap.com to spot them—plus other trolls Dambo has built. Happy hunting!