AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- According to the Pease Park Conservancy, the art installation known as Malin has been destroyed by a fire that occurred in the early morning hours.
Emergency crews arrived at the Kingsbury Commons section of the park to find the sculpture completely engulfed in flames.
The 18-foot wooden structure, a representation of a female troll holding a basin, was completed in March 2024 under the direction of Danish artist Thomas Dambo. The project involved 150 local volunteers and utilized recycled materials, including wood from old pallets and a decommissioned water tower from the University of Texas' J.J. Pickle Research Campus.
The sculpture was designed to symbolize the relationship between the local community and the natural environment.
The Austin Fire Department responded to reports of the blaze at approximately 5:30 a.m. Thursday morning. Despite arriving within five minutes, firefighters encountered initial access challenges from North Lamar Boulevard, and the structure was ultimately leveled. The AFD arson unit is investigating the cause of the incident, and a $1,000 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest.
While the Pease Park Conservancy has expressed that they are deeply saddened by the loss of the $300,000 privately funded installation, no formal decision has been reached regarding the potential reconstruction of the sculpture or the future use of the site.
Although the work was insured, the organization has yet to confirm whether a replacement will be commissioned.
