From now through May 21, visitors to the Memphis Botanic Garden will find themselves in a land of giant trolls on a quest to save their home. The six trolls on display in this traveling exhibit illustrate one chapter of Dambo’s bigger fairytale A Trail of a 1000 Trolls: Trolliefolkyfest. They also provide an extremely rare opportunity to see Dambo’s work, most of which is in permanent installations around the world and in his native Denmark.
In keeping with Dambo’s philosophy of using existing materials to create his art, the trolls featured in "Saving the Planet" are made of salvaged pallets and other recycled materials. However, while the six characters--Basse Buller, Rosa Sunfinger, Ibbi Pip, Kamma Can, Ronja Redeye and Sofus Lotus–are a sight to see, this isn’t your ordinary stop and stare, learn your lesson exhibition. Instead, visitors of all ages are invited to step into the lore of a world where small people (the trolls’ term for humans) have gone from ignoring nature to causing damage. What to do about this problem is a major topic at Trolliefolkyfest, a troll gathering that is taking place for the first time in 211 years.
While the gathering is an important social occasion for the trolls, it is also an opportunity for fireside discussions of problems and other concerns. This particular Trolliefolkyfest brings with it worries about the humans who have been changing the landscape with dams, logging and mining. Some of the trolls actually suggest eating the humans to end the destruction. One of the young trolls, Ronja Redeye, declares to her friends that they must save the humans. After much persuasion, the young trolls convince the gathering that teaching the humans to protect the planet rather than exploit it is the better solution.
Placed in various spots within the Botanic Garden, the six young (but still very large) trolls who determine that the humans must be spared along with the planet are the focal points of the exhibit. Two of those sculptures also feature other pieces that have taken on their own significance within Dambo’s troll world. One of these works is Rosa Sunfinger’s red car. For some reason, that little red car fascinates the trolls. Probably more important, though, is Ibbi Pip’s birdhouse. Dambo began his artistic career in street art, particularly graffiti and hip hop. In 2006, though, with increased arrests of graffiti artists, Dambo began making birdhouses instead. The birdhouses are now highly sought after for urban areas and private homes.
Taught the value of recycling by his parents and armed with a master’s degree in interactive design from Kolding Design School in Denmark, Dambo determined to reuse materials to create public art that is both fun and informative. Much of his work consists of colorful urban pieces designed to uplift the viewers, but he is probably best known for the trolls he has placed in outdoor settings throughout the world. Over 100 of these trolls are scattered around Europe, the Americas, and Asia. All of them are made from recycled materials.
"We are absolutely ecstatic for guests to discover the magic and meaning behind these larger-than-life visitors at the Garden," said Memphis Botanic Garden Director of Marketing & Communications, Olivia Wall. "You don’t want to miss this special opportunity to deepen your connection to the natural world around you."
For a full list of special programming, visit membg.org.
"We are absolutely ecstatic for guests to discover the magic and meaning behind these larger-than-life visitors at the Garden." - Olivia Wall, Memphis Botanic Garden Director of Marketing & Communications.
The troll sculptures that people will see at the Memphis Botanic Garden are mostly made up of damaged pallets that were salvaged from local companies in Denmark.