Dambo created this outdoor sculpture of Denmark's national bird from 300 recycled plastic buckets to illustrate the country’s commitment to recycling and sustainability. The transformation of trash into a thing of beauty communicates the potential of discarded materials and recalls the story of The Ugly Duckling, penned by Hans Christian Andersen in the 19th century. Today, the swan is also symbolic of environmentally friendly products due its use as an ecolabel introduced by the Nordic Council of Ministers in 1989 and widely recognizable to Nordic consumers today.
Placed outside of the Museum's main entrance, the Nordic Swan is apopular "selfie" stop for those walking along Market Street.
Nordic Swan (2015) is supported by the Embassy of Denmark in Washington, DC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and the Ministry of Culture in Denmark. Additional support for the National Nordic Museum’s installation is provided by the Scan Design Foundation.
