31 May 2017
The Wrocław Dwarfs: From Political Protest to Silliness for its own Sake
A quick glance at the original and it can be quickly and easily divined that a series was not, at first, planned. What started as a single monument has blossomed in to a city-wide celebration.
After the original statue was erected, slowly, but surely, the dwarfs started to multiply. This was all with the blessing of the city’s authorities. It may be one of the few examples where the powers that be have commemorated a subversive movement dedicated to the downfall of the (then) state with such enthusiasm.
Throughout the city, dwarfs can be seen carrying on with their day to day lives. Some entertain one another with song; others participate in imbibing as much alcohol as they possibly can and one even prepares to carry an important message via pigeon post - quite possibly a request for more hard liquor.
When you live a life of partying, however, sometimes all you want to do is take a nap in the morning sunshine outside your home. Occasionally, you might even move your bed outside.
Of course, the general dwarf population of any city is not known for its reluctance to celebrate anything and everything. When tipsy enthusiasm turns to drunken abandon there are always going to be repercussions.
Some dwarfs are seen to be getting on with life's little tasks.
Others still have been placed in order to highlight a particular issue. The three above, for example, were commissioned for the city’s 2008 Wrocław Without Barriers campaign. This was part of the authority’s commitment to raise awareness of disability issues in and around the city.
However, it seems that the chief occupation of most of the dwarfs is... carousing, even if not everyone makes it to his bed.
Note the use of the word his. Out of the huge number (250 and growing) of dwarfs in Wrocław, so far only three are female (and we have found pictures of all three of them). This may be indicative of folklore where male dwarfs always seem to vastly outnumber the female of their species. Or it could be a sign of their natural proclivities: perhaps they are a race of, ahem, bachelor boys.
That aside, here are the ladies. The first is seen serving beer: it has to be said that female emancipation may not yet have reached the Wroclaw dwarfs but at least the second seems to be having more fun in the workplace in as much as the work bit has disappeared from the word. The third seems to be preparing for a date. Perhaps the triumph of hope over experience in this boystown?
The dwarfs have become such a popular attraction in the city that the local tourist office even publishes a leaflet telling would-be dwarf spotters where to find them. What started as a form of political protest may now be just an excuse for a little silliness for its own sake. Yet there is serious history here too, which, thanks to the dwarfs, will not be forgotten.
