Artist creates giant sculptures and hides them in Copenhagen’s forests

Danish artist Thomas Dambo is all about art with a purpose. One of his biggest projects yet is the giant sculptures that he placed within the forests of Copenhagen.

Thomas has been creating wooden giants and placing them around the forests in Copenhagen for about three years now.

He says that part of the reason why he chose giant sculptures as his subject is that he wants to encourage people to visit out-of-the-way areas of the forest that they might otherwise miss.

And he seems to have succeeded in his plan. More and more people are starting to visit the area to witness his larger-than-life sculptures in person.

Thomas has a team of volunteers that he works with to help him speed up the process of building the sculptures. They assist him with bringing in the supplies and putting together the giants.

As a show of appreciation for their time and efforts, the artist names each giant after one of the volunteers.

The team works together to find and recover discarded wood. These materials are used to bring Thomas’ sculptures to life while staying true to the environment by not producing more waste.

Beside each giant is an engraved stone where a poem is written providing a clue to discovering other sculptures in the area as well as the unique aspects of the nearby forest.

But if you aren’t one for unraveling mysteries, Thomas has also created a map that will guide those who want to discover where his sculptures can be found and the area surrounding them.

Aside from the aesthetic purpose that it serves, each sculpture plays a role in the forest that will benefit humans and other creatures that inhabit it.

One sculpture named Teddy Friendly has an arm outstretched across a small stream. It serves as a bridge for people to cross over the other side while keeping their shoes dry. Another sculpture was built with more than 24 birdhouses to provide refuge to the forest’s winged residents.

This brilliant concept is unlike anything that the world has seen!

Meanwhile, Thomas will introduce his first Wisconsin installation in spring 2025 at a park near 116th Street, Discover Wauwatosa.

According to the release, the $365,000 project will be funded by tourism taxes collected from visitors staying at local hotels and Airbnbs, with no property tax money involved.

The Wauwatosa Tourism Commission chose to bring Thomas Dambo’s art to the city, highlighting how his work with recycled materials supports its sustainability goals.

On July 10, the commission approved his contract and shifted about $368,100, plus a 10% buffer, from the capital to the operating budget.

According to meeting records, the funds will cover the contract, account for currency exchange, and pay for updates to the park’s lighting plan.

“(Dambo’s) giant troll sculpture will not only enhance our new park but also position Wauwatosa as a vibrant arts destination,” Beth Gleesing, the City of Wauwatosa tourism specialist, said in the release.

Thomas has not yet shared what the Tosa troll will look like. Still, in a video from his workshop near Copenhagen, he hinted that it will be “really, really special.”

He said the design idea came to him three years ago, and now Wauwatosa is the perfect spot.

“Now, I finally got the perfect location for it, and that is in Wauwatosa,” he said in the video.

According to Gleesing, Dambo will build part of the sculpture in Denmark and travel to Wauwatosa in May 2025 to finish it over about four weeks.

The troll will stay in the city for as long as it holds up, with the option to bring Thomas back for repairs if needed.

Visit Thomas Dambo’s website to see more of his genius works and keep up with his latest projects. You may also follow him on Instagram and Facebook.

More photos below:

Take a look at the video below to see the giants within the forest and hear Thomas speak about the advocacy behind it.