The fine art of dumpster diving | Thomas Dambo | TEDxFargo

Summary

Thomas Dambo, a passionate artist and environmentalist, shares his childhood fascination with trash as a resource for creativity and building. He has dedicated his life to recycling and upcycling, creating giant sculptures from scrap wood and hiding them in forests worldwide. Dambo's work has inspired millions to reconsider waste as a valuable resource, advocating for a mindset shift to see trash as treasure and opportunity for a better world.

Takeaways

• 😀 Thomas Dambo has a lifelong passion for reusing and repurposing trash as creative building blocks.
• 🏠 As a child, he transformed discarded items into parts of his treetop house, dreaming of becoming an artist.
• 🚴 Thomas's father, who owned a bicycle shop, introduced him to recycling stations, which he saw as treasure troves for his creative projects.
• 🤫 Together, they developed a method to secretly collect discarded items from recycling stations without being seen.
• 🗝 Thomas now builds large sculptures from recycled materials, aiming to raise awareness about the value of trash and its potential for upcycling.
• 🌳 He has created a series of 'troll' sculptures from scrap wood, hidden in forests around the world for people to discover.
• 🌏 These sculptures have been visited by over 10 million people, teaching them about the beauty and value of reusing old materials.
• 👥 Dambo employs 23 people at his workshop in Denmark, all of whom are involved in transforming trash into art and installations.
• 🔢 In the U.S. alone, enough scrap wood is sent to landfills annually to build 2.5 million trolls, highlighting the vast potential of waste materials.
• 💡 Dambo believes that everything can be made from anything, and there should be no such thing as trash, challenging the traditional view of waste.
• 🌱 He calls for a shift in mindset to see trash not as something dirty and worthless, but as a valuable resource and opportunity for wealth and creativity.
• 📸 Dambo's closing call to action encourages individuals to take responsibility for their trash, share it, and find new value in what others might discard.

Q & A

What did Thomas Dambo love as a child and why?

Thomas Dambo loved trash as a child because he saw it as free and abundant building blocks for creativity and play, which he used to create structures like his treetop house.

How did Thomas and his father secretly collect materials from the recycle station?

Thomas and his father developed a method where they would park their van in front of the station manager's office to block the view, and then they would collect materials from the recycle station without being seen.

What is Thomas Dambo's profession and mission?

Thomas Dambo is an artist who builds giant sculptures from recycled materials with the mission of saving the world from drowning in trash and showing the beauty and value of trash.

What is the significance of the troll sculptures Thomas creates?

The troll sculptures are made from scrap wood and hidden in forests around the world, serving as a way to limit the world's trash and to inspire people to see the potential in discarded materials.

How many trolls has Thomas Dambo completed and in how many countries can they be found?

Thomas Dambo has completed 118 trolls, which can be found in 17 countries around the world.

What is the purpose of the project involving the creation of troll sculptures?

The purpose of the project is to raise awareness about the value of recycling and upcycling, and to demonstrate that something made from old materials can be as good as something new.

How does Thomas Dambo's studio and workshop operate regarding waste materials?

Thomas's studio and workshop operate by dumpster diving, cleaning, collecting, organizing, and building everything from other people's trash, including the materials for his sculptures and the shingles for his workshop.

What is the approximate amount of scrap wood needed to build one of Thomas's troll sculptures?

It takes approximately five tons of scrap wood to build one of Thomas's troll sculptures.

How much scrap wood is wasted in the United States annually, and what could this amount to in terms of Thomas's troll sculptures?

In the United States, 12 million tons of scrap wood is driven to the landfill every year, which is enough to build 2.5 million trolls, according to Thomas's calculations.

What is the main message Thomas Dambo wants to convey through his work and talk?

The main message is that trash should not be seen as worthless but as a valuable resource, and that by changing our mindset towards trash, we can use it to build a better world filled with opportunities.

What call to action does Thomas Dambo give at the end of his talk?

Thomas Dambo encourages people to look at what is being thrown out, take a photo of their trash, and share it with others to find someone for whom the trash could be a treasure, thereby taking responsibility for waste and promoting recycling.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 'Upcycling Artistry': Thomas Dambo's Journey with Trash

Thomas Dambo, a passionate upcycler and artist, shares his childhood fascination with trash as a free and abundant resource for creativity. He recounts his experiences of transforming discarded items into an elaborate treetop house and his adventures in recycling stations with his father, using a stealthy method to salvage materials. Dambo's life has been dedicated to reducing waste through his work as a rapper, TV show host, and creator of upcycling workshops and installations. His most significant project involves constructing large troll sculptures from scrap wood, hidden in forests worldwide for people to discover. The sculptures, like Little Tilde, Hanna Halerød, Sigurd, Røskva, Jyttes, Lost Finn, and the Moon Mother, are part of his mission to demonstrate the beauty and value of repurposed trash, with over 118 trolls completed across 17 countries, inspiring millions to reconsider waste as a valuable resource.

05:00

🛠 'Transforming Trash into Treasure': Dambo's Sustainable Workshop

When not traveling, Thomas Dambo operates from a farm in Denmark, employing 23 people full-time to rethink the value of discarded materials. The farm's revenue and operations are entirely funded by upcycling other people's trash. Dambo's workshop is a testament to this philosophy, with its colorful shingles made from old billboards and his hat crafted from old jeans. He emphasizes the potential of using waste materials like the 12 million tons of scrap wood discarded in the U.S. annually, which could build millions of sculptures, highlighting the vast opportunities for waste to be repurposed into valuable goods. Dambo challenges societal perceptions of trash as worthless and dangerous, advocating for a shift in mindset to see trash as a resource. He concludes with a call to action, encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their waste, share images of it, and find opportunities for others to repurpose it, thereby preventing the loss of potential dreams and contributing to a better world.

Keywords

💡Trash

Trash refers to waste or discarded materials that are no longer needed or wanted. In the context of the video, trash is redefined as a valuable resource for creativity and art. The speaker, Thomas Dambo, uses trash to create sculptures and installations, emphasizing its potential to be transformed into something meaningful and beautiful, as seen in his childhood experiences with repurposing items found at the recycle station.

💡Recycling

Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. The video's theme revolves around the idea of recycling as a means to reduce waste and promote sustainability. Dambo's work with scrap wood and other discarded materials exemplifies recycling in action, as he repurposes these items into giant sculptures, demonstrating the creative potential of waste materials.

💡Upcycling

Upcycling is the practice of transforming byproducts, waste materials, or useless and/or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value. The video's message highlights upcycling as a way to give new life to discarded items. Dambo's troll sculptures are a prime example of upcycling, as they are made from scrap wood that would otherwise end up in landfills.

💡Sustainability

Sustainability refers to the ability to maintain certain processes or conditions without depleting resources or causing harm to the environment. The video promotes the concept of sustainability through the lens of art and creativity. Dambo's work with recycled materials not only creates art but also raises awareness about the importance of reducing waste and using resources responsibly.

💡Sculptures

Sculptures are three-dimensional works of visual art created by shaping or combining hard materials, such as stone, metal, or wood. In the video, Dambo's use of recycled materials to create large-scale sculptures is a central theme. These sculptures, made from scrap wood and other found objects, showcase the beauty and potential of repurposed materials.

💡Dumpster Diving

Dumpster diving is the act of searching through trash containers to find useful or valuable items that have been discarded. The video's narrative includes Dambo's childhood memories of dumpster diving with his father at the recycle station, which sparked his interest in reusing trash and ultimately led to his career as an artist creating from recycled materials.

💡Creativity

Creativity is the use of imagination or original ideas to produce something new and valuable. The video emphasizes the role of creativity in transforming trash into art. Dambo's childhood play and his current work as an artist are both fueled by creativity, which allows him to see the potential in discarded items and turn them into something new and meaningful.

💡Trolls

In the context of the video, trolls refer to the large, whimsical sculptures that Dambo creates from recycled materials. These trolls are not only art pieces but also serve as environmental statements, hidden in forests around the world for people to discover. The trolls symbolize the imaginative and playful nature of repurposing waste.

💡Volunteers

Volunteers are individuals who offer their time and effort to assist with a project or cause without financial gain. The video mentions the involvement of thousands of volunteers in Dambo's projects, emphasizing the collective effort required to transform large quantities of scrap wood and other materials into art installations.

💡Resource

A resource is a source of supply or support, often referring to materials or assets that can be used for a particular purpose. The video's message challenges the conventional view of trash as worthless by framing it as a valuable resource. Dambo's work demonstrates how waste materials can be resources for creating art and raising environmental awareness.

💡Mindset

Mindset refers to a set of attitudes or beliefs that influence how someone thinks about and approaches something. The video calls for a change in mindset regarding trash, encouraging viewers to see it not as a problem but as an opportunity for creativity and resourcefulness. Dambo's personal journey and his art serve as powerful examples of shifting one's mindset to value what is often discarded.

Highlights

Thomas Dambo's childhood fascination with trash as free and abundant building blocks for creativity.

Dambo's transformation of discarded items into an ever-expanding treetop house, reflecting his early artistic aspirations.

The sneaky method developed with his father to 'set trash free' from the recycle station without being seen.

Dambo's current occupation as a creator of giant sculptures from recycled materials, aiming to save the world from trash.

His diverse background including rapping, TV shows, and workshops all centered around the theme of recycling and upcycling.

The introduction of Dambo's large-scale project of creating troll sculptures from scrap wood hidden in forests worldwide.

Descriptions of specific troll sculptures like Little Tilde in Copenhagen, each with unique features and messages.

The involvement of thousands of volunteers in Dambo's projects, emphasizing community engagement in recycling efforts.

The revelation that Dambo's studio and workshop are entirely funded by repurposing other people's trash.

The potential of using waste to build houses, furniture, and other structures instead of contributing to landfill growth.

Dambo's belief in the limitless possibilities of creating from waste and the non-existence of trash in a resourceful sense.

The societal mindset that trash is dirty and worthless, and the need to change this perception to embrace its value.

Dambo's personal journey from an outlaw dumpster diver to a respected recycler with his own container for unwanted items.

The idea of setting up local partnerships to bring trash into the light and reveal the opportunities it presents.

Dambo's call to action for individuals to take responsibility for their trash and find value in what others may discard.

The final message that by reevaluating our trash, we can prevent the loss of potential dreams and contribute to a better world.

Transcripts

Transcriber: Vicky liu Reviewer: Elisabeth Buffard

Ever since I was a kid, I loved trash.

(Laughter)

I mean, if you think about it,

trash is the perfect building blocks for playing and being creative

because trash is for free and you can find it everywhere,

and you can always find just as much as you need.

Cardboard boxes, books, bottles,

broken bicycles or pallets, colorful plastic bags.

I would shove them all in a shopping cart,

and then I would shove it back to my parents' backyard,

where I would give it new life in my ever-expanding treetop house,

where I sometimes would sit and dream about one day becoming an artist.

This is me

(Laughter)

when I was five years old, playing in my parents' trashcan.

And back then, my father, he had a bicycle shop,

and in the weekend, he would bring me along

to the recycle station to get rid of his trash.

And to me,

the recycle station was like a gigantic toy store

filled with everything my young heart could desire,

like a boombox that was broken

just because somebody had bent their antenna and they had discarded it,

or a window with all the glass intact that fit perfectly from the skylight

for my treetop house.

I got a pipe that could be a slide for one of my action figures.

But at the recycle station, there was one big problem:

it was illegal to dumpster dive.

And so me and my father, through the years ,

had developed a sneaky method

where we would park his green company van

just in front of the station manager's office,

outside the window so it would block the entire view of the recycle station

and me and my father, behind the truck,

could steal all the trash without nobody seeing us.

Or as I like to think back then, set the trash free

before the dump truck would come and take it

and it would be gone forever.

My name is Thomas Dambo,

and I build giant sculptures of recycled materials

while I dream about saving the world from drowning in trash.

Pretty much my whole life I have been centered around trash,

recycling and upcycling, I've been a rapper,

I've rapped and had music videos about dumpster diving

I made TV shows about dumpster diving.

I've had upcycling workshops with Christmas ornaments.

I've built countless installations and sculptures, all with the same focus,

to limit our world's trash

by showing us all how beautiful and valuable our trash is.

But the last nine years,

I've been working on one super, super big project

where I'm building big recycled troll sculptures of scrap wood

and hiding them in the forest around the world

for us all to go and find.

And I will now introduce you to a couple of them.

This here is Little Tilde.

Little Tilde, she is in a forest in Copenhagen,

where I also come from - I come from Denmark -

and she's hiding behind a tree

because she's a little bit afraid of us humans.

Because most of the time when we come to visit her forest,

we come with a big chainsaw to cut down the very same forest.

This one is called Hanna Halerød.

Hannah has a 350-foot-long tail

that is made from pellets that around 70 volunteers have created,

and it runs from the nearest parking lot and then through the forest,

over a little hill and around the tree

and up to where you can then follow it and find where she's standing.

This one is called Sigurd.

(Laughter)

Sigurd is trying to tame a big or little big red car

while it's rolling down a hill.

And most of my trolls, also like Sigurd,

don't really like cars because they find them really noisy

and really smelly.

This one is Røskva, it is in Maine, here in the United States.

This one is called Jyttes.

It is a holding a big tree like little tree hugger troll,

in Mandurah in Australia.

This one is called Lost Finn, I just finished it two weeks ago in Vermont.

And this one is called the Moon Mother, it is my number 100 troll.

I have now finished 118 trolls

that can be found in 17 countries all around the world. (Applause)

(Applause)

Thank you so much.

Thousands of volunteers have helped me take apart pallets

and recycle hundreds of tons of scrap wood

that now over 10 million people have gone to visit

while all returning home with a valuable lesson,

that something made of something old

can be just as good as something made of something new.

When I'm not on the road, I have my studio and my workshop

at a big old farm in Denmark,

where I now employ 23 people full time.

And all of our salaries, and including the farm,

is generated by rethinking the value of other people's trash.

We dumpster dive, we clean, collect,

organize and build everything from other people's trash.

Like my workshop here that is covered in colorful shingles

cut from old aluminum billboards.

And before I got here today,

I had my old working jeans sewn into this beautiful hat.

It takes approximately five tons of scrap wood to build one of my trolls.

And in the United States,

12 million tons of scrap wood is driven to the landfill every year.

That is actually enough to build 2.5 million trolls

of scrap wood in the United States alone, per year.

It's probably a lot more trolls than we need.

But my point is,

(Laughter)

my point is that we could use our waste for so many better things

than to grow our landfills bigger and bigger.

We could build houses, we could build furniture, toys, homes,

probably skyscrapers, I think the possibilities are unlimited.

I believe that anything can be made out of anything,

and that there should be no such thing as trash.

Yet the world is running out of resources while the world is drowning in trash.

But there is a saying

that one man's trash is another man's treasure.

And if we would all learn to understand the full meaning of this sentence,

that one man's trash is another man's treasure,

that trash equals treasure, that trash equals wealth and opportunity,

then we would also understand

that our world is actually not drowning in trash.

It is filled with wealth and opportunity to build a better world.

And I believe the reason why we don't understand this,

it is because we've all grown up in a society

that has told us that trash is dirty,

it is disgusting and it is dangerous.

We've been taught that trash is worthless,

and we live in a world where we put those who work with trash

at the bottom of our society and at the bottom of our payrolls.

But if we want to save the world from drowning in trash,

we have to change that mindset.

And we have to learn to love our trash for the valuable resource it is.

And…

This is me,

43 years old, at one of the very same recycle stations

that I used to go to with my father as a child.

And now I'm no longer an outlaw.

Now I have my own container

where people will give me the stuff they don't want anymore,

like pallets and old floors and a boombox that's still working,

so that I can bring it back to my farm,

where me and my crew, and my father when he comes to visit,

can use it to create new things.

I believe we could easily set up millions of small local partnerships such as this,

if we would bring our trash out in the light

where people could see it and see the opportunity in it.

I found my dream of becoming an artist in a trash can.

Trash is a treasure.

Trash can make you a millionaire.

But treated without caution,

trash is treacherous and can drown the world.

And so I will end my talk today with a simple call to action.

Look at what is being thrown out at your home.

Next time you're cleaning out your garage, at the job where you work,

or at the factory that you own, and take responsibility for your trash.

Take a photo of your trash.

Share that photo with your friends, your family, and your world

so you can try and find that someone

for whom the content of your trash can is a treasure.

Because if you don't do so,

then you might just be throwing out someone's dream

next time the dump truck comes to empty your trash can.

Thank you.