Danish recycling artist Thomas Dambo, known for creating nearly 200 giant wooden troll sculptures hidden in natural landscapes across 19 countries, is presenting his first museum exhibition. Titled "The Garbage Man," the show opens at the Arken Museum of Contemporary Art near Copenhagen and features a new narrative in which mischievous trolls secretly take over the museum, building a giant human figure from trash as a lesson about waste. The exhibition runs from Sunday until November 29 and includes works made from discarded materials like electronics, cardboard, and clothing, some of which would not survive outdoors.
This exhibition marks a significant shift for Dambo, whose work has traditionally been a global treasure hunt accessible via an online "Troll Map." By moving indoors, he can experiment with fragile recycled materials and reach a wider audience, while continuing to convey messages about consumption and waste. The show underscores the growing relevance of environmental themes in contemporary art and highlights how public art can evolve into institutional contexts without losing its playful, activist spirit.