Dwarves (Krasnale) of Wroclaw 1

The story goes that in the 1980s, during the period of martial law in Poland, the Orange Alternative, an underground anti-communist movement, began using dwarf images as their symbol of peaceful resistance.

Krasnale is Polish for dwarf or gnome.

The movement organized various protests and happenings, and the dwarves became a playful way for people to express their dissatisfaction with the regime without engaging in direct confrontation. This included using dwarfs in street art that covered communist propaganda.

This movement came to an end on June 1, 1988 with 10,000+ protesters wearing orange cone-shaped hats and shouting “Freedom for the dwarfs”. Over time, the city of Wroclaw embraced this symbol.

In 2001, a local artist named Tomasz Moczek started placing small dwarf statues throughout Wroclaw. These bronze dwarf statues can be found in various locations, often in unexpected or hidden spots. Each dwarf has its own unique appearance and theme, and they have become a popular attraction for both locals and tourists.Read more