VI
EN
The Mountain Demon is a newly built tourist attraction near Da Lat city featuring models of demons standing amidst the mountains and forests. They quickly became "famous" for their appearance, which is considered offensive and completely out of place with the peaceful and romantic scenery. Meanwhile, in the Danish capital, tourists are excitedly searching for six forgotten giants created by artist Thomas Dambo and his collaborators.
What makes Thomas Dambo's works so appealing is primarily their materials. The giants are constructed from scraps of wood, flat pieces of wood, or other discarded wooden tools. Once completed, they are placed in various locations throughout the city, their positions marked with a map. Visitors to Copenhagen often take the opportunity to search for the hiding places of these mysterious giants.
Six giants, each with a different shape and appearance, have now become an integral part of Copenhagen's forests. The placement of these "big guys" is carefully considered so that they all fulfill a special mission.
The statue of "Friendly Teddy" stands on the lakeshore, with one arm outstretched to form a bridge across the river. Teddy's fur is reportedly made from scraps of wood, a familiar style in Thomas Dambo's works.
The statue of "Thomas on the Mountain" sits atop a hill, facing the town of Albertslund, its outstretched legs providing an ideal bench for visitors to relax.
One of Thomas Dambo's most remarkable sculptures is called "Little Tidle." Inside the sculpture is a unique wintering ground for 28 bird nests.
"Sleepy Louis" is a lazy giant located on the outskirts of Copenhagen. Louis's mouth is always wide open, creating empty space for tourists to play or sleep in.
The statue, "Oscar at the Foot of the Bridge," is named after an artist from Chile who visited and assisted Thomas Dambo in completing his project.
“Trine on the Hill” was created as a gift for tiny visitors who can climb into the palm of the statue's hand and admire the panoramic view of the Avedøresletten nature reserve.
Thomas Dambo succeeded not only in bringing artwork out of museums, but more importantly, in bringing people closer to nature. The sculptures, scattered throughout the desolate forests, resemble the last remaining giants of an ancient tribe, seeking to protect and invite smaller people to explore a peaceful fairytale world in the heart of the city.
"The forgotten giants" have now become famous, inspiring the reuse of waste materials and nature-based travel. Their model has been replicated in many places around the world: China, South Korea, the US, Belgium, and perhaps even Vietnam's "mountain devils."
