Lathams News: 'THE SIX FORGOTTEN GIANTS"

I have found another bucket list thing to go and visit...
Our son Pete came across this early this month just outside of Copenhagen. I have definitely decided that I want to go visit this forest next time we go to Copenhagen to visit Pete....

These six large wood giants are hiding out in a forest near Copenhagen and were bought to life by a Danish artist named Thomas Dambo. The six large hidden sculptures were made from various types of recycled wood, with the help of local volunteers in Copenhagen. The recycled wooded used for these breathtaking giants varies from scrap wood, to cut offs from old trees, and even buildings that have been torn down.
Dambo's aim for this project was to bring art out of the museum and show the alluring nature of the outskirts of Western Copenhagen. Each of the giants have been hidden in a beautiful location and he encourages those that visit to go on a treasure hunt, using a map to find them...

He gives clues as to where to find each one - beside each giant is a poem engraved on a stone, which gives hints on how to find the other giants.
The idea is to encourage people to get out and discover all the beautiful, unexplored areas of nature where they live.

"I believe a lot of people have forgotten to be curious and explore the places they live - as we grow older we start living our lives in a triangle between our house, our job and our supermarket," he says.

"So by putting the sculptures in places people don't know about and don't normally go, I both give them the experience of the sculpture but also the nature they come through on the way there.
"I made it into a treasure hunt to give the project some mystique and adventure."

As a 12-year-old child, Danish artist Thomas Dambo grew up building treehouses out of whatever junk he could find.
He didn't have money and opportunity to transport stuff, so in order to make his big and creative dreams come true, he had to go scavenge it with a shopping cart."
Fast forward 25 years, and Dambo has become an expert in turning trash into treasure, creating recycled installations in wood, plastic and metal. And he's hoping to inspire others to follow in his footsteps.
"I believe we need to take better care of our planet and that being better at recycling is a big part of this," said Dambo.
"For me it makes no sense to discord things that has value, it's just plain stupid. So to put focus on this I make big, positive, fun and interactive projects to show people that recycling can be much more than trash."

Dambo names each giant after one of the volunteers who helped build it. His favourite giant is Teddy Friendly, which is in a "piece of wild and completely forgotten nature" in west Copenhagen called Hakkemosen.
"I made the sculpture next to a tiny stream, and made the one arm reach to the other side of the stream, so it creates a bridge for the small humans to cross," he says.
"I think it's a nice little story that the giant helps us small humans."

Little Tilde hides in the forest...

Little Tilde hides in the forest and looks through a set of trees. She looks over to the opposite side of the lake where a viewer can catch a glimpse of her from the other side. As a bonus, Thomas filled Little Tilde with 28 bird houses so birds can seek shelter in the winter.

Then the next giant he came across was Teddy Friendly....

Teddy Friendly stands at a water stream

Teddy friendly helps people across...

Teddy Friendly stands at a water stream extending his hand so he can help people cross. Teddy is named after a friendly teacher that assisted in building the sculpture

Hill Top Trine rests on top of a little hill in Hvidovre, Copenhagen. One can climb into Trine’s hands and look out at the beautiful view.

Hill Top Trine

you can climb into Trine's hand for an amazing view of the countryside...

Dambo has certainly used his imagination when creating these giants. With his next giant you can actually crawl inside him through his mouth...

Sleeping Louis

Sleeping Louis is taking a nap on a hill that is covered by trees and surrounded by nature. This sculpture allows for people to crawl inside and play, or sleep

You can actually crawl inside his mouth and explore his insides.

Thomas on the Mountain has a good place to hangout on top of a hill. His legs are long and provide a good place for people to sit and talk about nature

Thomas on the Mountain

His long legs make good benches for people to sit on and just enjoy their surroundings...

What a view...

The last one I love... It reminds me of the Children's story of the 'Three Billy Goat's Gruff" and the mean old troll who lived under the bridge. I am sure this giant though would not be mean....

Oscar under the Bridge....

Oscar Under the Bridge, likes to hide under a bridge. Oscar is made of scrap wood from a torn down watermill and broken pallets

Big hand over the rail of the bridge....

I love this guys work... and I can't wait to see it for real...
However, when I did some research of this sculptor, I found out that he has over 4000 other pieces of work including street art birdhouses made of recycled wood, giant interactive pixel installations called "Happy Walls" and other large wooden sculptures...

He has big displays in Germany, Puerto Rick, in the US state of Florida and on the Gold Coast in Australia...

I was particularly interested in his works on the Gold Coast as that is in close proximity to us which means I can organise a visit to go check them out...

He has three installations on the Gold Coast which are housed at the Carrara Markets were completed in 20116. I have been to these markets on several ocassions but not since 1
2016 so they are now definitely on my must go visit list again...
His three Australian instillation are "Kangaroo Kat"