Changing Exhibits | Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

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TROLLS: Save the Humans is Now Open!

Exhibition Dates: September 13, 2024 - January 20, 2025.

Meet the six giant Trolls that have taken up residence at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center! The goal of the tribe is to help the humans rediscover nature and inspire them to be good stewards of the earth. Featuring unique personalities, each troll brings a story to tell the humans.

TROLLS: Save the Humans is an exhibition featuring Thomas Dambo’s signature folklore-inspired troll sculptures built from reclaimed materials. Thomas Dambo’s vision is to create art that will inspire people to go explore nature and demonstrate how trash can be upcycled into something beautiful and unique. The outdoor exhibition fuses fairytales, whimsy, and incredible art installations to inspire visitors to explore themes such as art, nature, poetry, folklore, and sustainability messages.

Created by artist Thomas Dambo Art Aps and produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Inc. Photo Credit: Courtesy Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Exhibit Created By

Thomas Dambo Art Aps

TROLLS is created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo.

About Thomas Dambo

Imagine Exhibitions

TROLLS is presented by Imagine Exhibitions.

About Imagine Exhibitions

Trolls Nature Trail Map

Nature Trail map with TROLLS locations.

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Meet the Trolls

Photo Credits: Artist Thomas Dambo | Courtesy Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Kamma Can the Trash Troll. Credit: Artist Thomas Dambo | Courtesy Atlanta Botanical Garden

Kamma Can: The Trash Troll

Kamma Can is a creator. Where humans see trash, she sees potential and wants to teach the humans not to throw away things so fast but instead to get creative with colorful plastics such as using them to create necklaces!

Sofus Lotus the Listening Troll. Credit: Artist Thomas Dambo | Courtesy Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Sofus Lotus: The Listening Troll

Sofus Lotus is a listener who pays great attention to the little things. He was first to notice something was wrong with the world - that nature was changing. He doesn't make a fuss. He just listens and remains mindful of nature and its beings.

Basse Buller the Painting Troll. Credit: Artist Thomas Dambo | Courtesy Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Basse Buller: The Painting Troll

Basse Buller is a wild child who spreads his message in mud paint and expresses himself through nature, including stones, leaves, and sticks, for leading humans on the right path. A rebel, he takes "no" as a "maybe."

Rosa Sunfinger the Botanist Troll. Credit: Artist Thomas Dambo | Courtesy Atlanta Botanical Garden

Rosa Sunfinger: The Botanist Troll

An introverted troll, Rosa expresses herself through her care for plants using her life-giving fingers. She spreads her wisdom by showing how plants can make even the most useless items come back to life.

Ibbi Pip the Birdhouse Troll. Credit: Artist Thomas Dambo | Courtesy Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Ibbi Pip: The Birdhouse Troll

Ibbi Pip tries to communicate with humans through colorful birdhouses. She's observed how humans use them to bring wildlife closer, and so thinks more birdhouses could awaken humans' compassion for their natural surroundings.

Ronja Redeye the Speaker Troll. Credit: Artist Thomas Dambo | Courtesy Atlanta Botanical Garden

Ronja Redeye: The Speaker Troll

Considered the best communicator among the traveling troll tribe, Ronja speaks to humans with compassion because she knows that words have the power to make them smile, but can also make them sad.