The sculptor of giants

“WHEN you live somewhere, it’s easy to take the scenery for granted and forget it, in a way. I see these sculptures as a way to remind people to look at their surroundings more. The sculptures didn’t make the area beautiful; the beauty was already there for everyone to see.”

These were the words of Thomas Dambo (44), one of the world’s leading recycle artists and the man behind the trio of giants who form the Sperrin Sculpture Trail.

Denmark-born Thomas has been producing artwork from discarded materials since 2014, and has left his mark across the globe, from the ‘Happy Wall’ in China to the ‘Future Forest’ in Mexico City.

Having a passion for recycling and sustainability which was instilled by his parents, Thomas created from an early age, whether it was music, street art or sculpture.

In 2011, he quit a job on Danish television to make art and, by his own admission, his aim is to ‘make beautiful things out of trash’.

GIANTS

The three giants who form the Sperrin Sculpture Trail showcase the geology, archaeology and heritage of the Sperrins and represent the past, present and future.

‘Nowanois: The Storytellers’ are located in the Glenelly Valley near Cranagh, ’Darach: The Guardian’ sits atop Mullaghcarn Mountain and ’Ceoldán: The Stargazer’ is situated at Davagh Forest.

So, Thomas, how did the trolls end up on the Sperrins?

“I was approached by an artist by the name of Jennifer Young from Antrim who envisioned the project, which we called the ‘Sperrin Sculpture Trail’, and who was instrumental in helping me make it a reality, along with cooperation between Derry City and Strabane, Mid Ulster Council and Fermanagh and Omagh councils, and McGurk Architects.

“I worked over a nine-week period, using local oak over an inner steel structure, which should see the trolls last for 60 years.”

Thomas was awed by the beauty of Irish landscape, and says that his sculptures, which are inspired by tales of trolls from his Danish upbringing, serve to accentuate the natural beauty of their surroundings.

Like Ireland, Denmark is a land rich with tradition with folklore and mythology permeating throughout the generations.

Where were have legends such as Cuchullainn, Finn McCool and the Aos Si, Danish folklore tells of trolls.

He commented, “Through extensive conversations with a local historian called Siubhan Regan, we hashed out the concept of ‘three giants and the campfires in the sky’, inspired by local myths of a Celtic and Neolithic nature, which tell stories regarding giants and the idea that stars are just campfires from other dimensions.

“It was through these conversations that we gave the creations names associated with local folklore.”

Thomas has not been back in the North since he installed the sculptures, but remarked that he would love to come back soon and visit his ‘big babies’.