Wrocław Dwarfs

Small figurines in the streets of Wrocław, Poland
Monument of the Orange Alternative (Papa Dwarf standing on the tip of a human finger)

Wrocław Dwarfs or Wrocław Gnomes (Polish: Wrocławskie krasnale) are small figurines (20–30 cm) that first appeared in the streets of Wrocław, Poland in 2005. Since then, their numbers have continued to grow, and today they are considered a tourist attraction. Tourists often walk around the city with a map, trying to find all of them.

In April 2019, there were already 600 dwarfs in the city. Six of them are located outside the city, at the LG plant in Biskupice Podgórne.

History

In 2001, a monument of a dwarf was placed on Świdnicka Street to commemorate the Orange Alternative, a Polish anti-communist movement, and its symbol. In 2003, the mayor of Wrocław, in an attempt to continue the new tradition, unveiled a small plaque on the door of The Dwarves’ Museum. It is located found at the height of human knees on the wall of a historic tenement called Jaś, which is situated between the Market Square and St. Elizabeth’s Church.

The dwarf figures, which are smaller than the Orange Alternative monument on Świdnicka Street, were placed in various locations throughout the city. The first five, designed by Tomasz Moczek, a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław, were installed in August 2005. These included the Fencer near the University of Wrocław, the Butcher in Stare Jatki arcade, two Sisyphuses on Świdnicka Street, and the Oder-Washer-Dwarf, near the Piasek Bridge. The last dwarf's name is related to Pracze Odrzańskie, a district on the outskirts of the city. The number of figures has continued to grow since then.

On June 18, 2008, a ceremony was held to unveil two new dwarves on Świdnicka Street, next to W-skers. The figures represent two disabled dwarves: the Deaf-Mute and the Blind. They are part of the Wrocław Without Barriers campaign, which aims to draw attention to handicapped people living in Wrocław. Five days later, another dwarf was erected at the Hematology and Pediatric Oncology Clinic in Wrocław. The design for this third female dwarf, Marzenka, was based on the logo of the Mam marzenie charity.[1]

The Dwarves' Festival takes place in Wrocław every year in September.

Gallery

  • Automator
    Automator
  • ATMers
    ATMers
  • Snorer
    Snorer
  • Programmer Capgeminiusz
    Programmer Capgeminiusz
  • Long One
    Long One
  • Printer Kacper
    Printer Kacper
  • Florianek
    Florianek
  • Gazuś
    Gazuś
  • Exchanger
    Exchanger
  • Pigeoner
    Pigeoner
  • Player and Melomaniac
    Player and Melomaniac
  • Janinek
    Janinek
  • Couchman
    Couchman
  • Coffee Lover
    Coffee Lover
  • Smith
    Smith
  • Mailman
    Mailman
  • Helper
    Helper
  • Recycler
    Recycler
  • Croissant Eater
    Croissant Eater
  • Souvenir Vendor
    Souvenir Vendor
  • Sisyphuses
    Sisyphuses
  • Troszka and Adoratorek
    Troszka and Adoratorek
  • Tourist
    Tourist
  • Ursus
    Ursus
  • Prisoner
    Prisoner
  • Papa Dwarf
    Papa Dwarf
  • Veteran
    Veteran
  • Fan of WKS Śląsk Wrocław
  • WrocLovek
    WrocLovek
  • Wrocklik
    Wrocklik
  • A Wrocław dwarf during the winter action of dressing dwarfs
    A Wrocław dwarf during the winter action of dressing dwarfs
  • Roszek (Roch) the veterinarian
    Roszek (Roch) the veterinarian

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dwarves in Wrocław.
  1. ^ "Information for Service Foundation's Mam Marzenie". Archived from the original on 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
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