No, we’re not trolling you. On Thursday, June 26, the North Carolina Arboretum and Explore Asheville announced that Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s world-famous trolls will stomp their way into the forests of the arboretum. Beginning Saturday, Nov. 15, “Trolls: A Field Study,” will debut, making Asheville the first North American host of the exhibit.
So what exactly will the seven- to nine-foot wooden trolls be doing here? Studying you. Twelve trolls, all with different personalities, will be placed throughout the formal gardens and trails to “learn about humankind” and the way of life here in WNC.
Treasure maps will be available for you to track down these curious creatures, with six featured as honored guests of the Arboretum’s Winter Lights exhibit. A book will accompany the exhibit, sharing the adventures and lessons learned about humans from the trolls’ perspective.
Dambo’s trolls are made from recycled materials, like fallen branches, wooden pallets, and twigs. He calls these specific sculptures “baby trolls,” since they’re considerably shorter than some of his other creatures, which can range up to 36 feet tall. Over the years, Dambo’s exhibits have traveled from China to Chile to Australia, garnering a fanatic fanbase that calls themselves “Troll Hunters.”
During a Thursday, June 26 press conference, the NC Arboretum’s Executive Director, Drake Fowler, said they expect folks to travel from across the US to see the sculptures, giving Asheville a winter tourism boost.
Fowler also shared that the Arboretum will soon welcome three wooden pieces from Echoes of the Forest, a local nonprofit created in the wake of Helene, constructing artistic memorials out of storm-salvaged trees. The nonprofit’s first piece is currently on display near Foundation Woodworks in the RAD.
You’ll have plenty of time to explore the whimsical wonders, with the exhibit running from Saturday, Nov. 15 through Tuesday, Feb. 17.
