Launch date announced for Giants of Mandurah exhibition

The Giants of Mandurah exhibition by world-renowned Danish artist Thomas Dambo will launch in the Peel region on November 12.

Dambo's Australian-first exhibition will feature at least five of the artist's giant whimsical wooden creatures that will be installed in secret locations throughout the Peel region for visitors to discover, with the help of a trail map and traveller's companion.

Both an artist and environmental activist, Dambo's artistic process celebrates the diversity, beauty and importance of the natural world, using recycled and locally sourced materials in his creations.

Dambo has previously exhibited his larger-than-life wooden sculptures throughout the world, including in his home country of Denmark, as well as Chile, China, France, Germany, South Korea and the United States of America.

Arguably one of his most ambitious projects to date, the Giants of Mandurah has been designed by Dambo as a game of self-discovery to encourage appreciation of the Peel region's natural environment, including its globally significant wetlands, and Mandurah's unique waterways, bushland and wildlife.

Members of the local community will work directly with Dambo to create the final works, each with its own unique identity and personality to help tell part of Mandurah's story.

The artistic and environmental story of the sculptures will sit alongside and be intertwined with the creation story of the local area, as shared by the region's Traditional Owners, the Bindjareb people.

The free-to-view outdoor exhibition, which will be on display for at least 12 months, will bring thousands of visitors to Western Australia's Peel region and provide a significant financial boost for the local economy.

Information, including tips and resources for visitors, will be made available through the project's dedicated website www.giantsofmandurah.com.au (currently in development).

"I'm delighted that the natural environment of Mandurah and the Peel region will be the new home for Australia's first outdoor exhibition and sculpture trail by renowned Danish artist, Thomas Dambo," Tourism Minister Roger Cook said.

"There was a huge reaction from the public when we first announced the exhibition in June. Now we are looking forward to the public launch on 12 November.

"When the exhibition opens, I encourage everyone to make the trip to Mandurah to discover Dambo's larger-than-life-wooden creatures for themselves, as well as the many other attractions on offer in the region."