They’re huge and hairy, have names like Ibbi Pip and Sofus Lotus and possibly eat humans. They’re Giant Trolls, and they’ll soon be coming to a forest near you.
On June 7, the exhibit “Trolls: Save the Humans” opens at the historic Filoli gardens in San Mateo County to run through early November. A half-dozen humongous creatures made of recycled materials like construction wood will take up residence among the redwood groves and meadow blooms. They’re the work of Danish artist and dumpster diver Thomas Dambo, who has “hidden” his trolls in at least 17 countries including Ireland, Australia and China – there’s even one skulking around in a nature museum in Solvang, California, called Lulu Hyggelig.
The exhibit “Trolls: Save the Humans” by Danish artist Thomas Dambo will run at the historic Filoli gardens in San Mateo County through early Nov., 2025. Pictured: “Kamma Can” at Filoli. (Courtesy of Filoli)
According to the artist’s lore, these sometimes 15-foot abominations – sorry, magical creatures – are locked in an eternal debate on whether to save humans despite their polluting, destructive ways, or (chomp chomp!) just devour them. When you take your kids to Filoli to meet the trolls, ask them which they’d prefer.
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“The outdoor exhibition will fuse fairytales, whims and monumental scale,” write the Filoli folks, “to inspire visitors to explore themes such as recycling and reusing trash, the importance of plants and gardens, art and more.”
Details: Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily at 86 Cañada Road, Woodside; general admission $36, filoli.org/trolls
