Ebi

Story

Ebi is a stern little detective who stands guard before the main entrance of the Centennial Hall, at ul. Wystawowa 1. He has the sharp eyes and serious face of a Breslau policeman, and legend says nobody gets past him without a good reason. His face may look familiar to readers of crime novels, because it belongs to the writer who invented him. Look up at the giant dome rising behind him and imagine an inspector in the 1930s on the trail of a villain. Children can play detective here: count the windows of the dome and report anything suspicious to Ebi.

History & Significance

Ebi was unveiled on Saturday 7 December 2019 in front of the Centennial Hall by Marek Krajewski, the Wrocław crime writer himself. He was made by sculptor Beata Zwolańska-Hołod. The dwarf takes his name from Eberhard Mock, the detective hero of Krajewski's novels, and his face from the author, who joked that the dwarf has Mock's name and the face of Mock's 'father', which is to say, his own. The Centennial Hall was a place Krajewski knew well, because he kept an office there for years. Like every Wrocław dwarf, Ebi belongs to the tradition that began with the Orange Alternative and the first bronze dwarfs of 2005.

Inspiration

Ebi honours the writer Marek Krajewski and his detective Eberhard Mock, a police officer in Breslau, the German name of pre-war Wrocław. Mock stars in a series of retro crime novels, among them 'Koniec świata w Breslau', 'Widma w mieście Breslau' and 'Festung Breslau', which have been translated into many languages. The dwarf stands at the Centennial Hall because the building is one of Krajewski's favourite places, and he even gave it a role in one of his books. 'Ebi' is the short, friendly form of Eberhard.

Fun Facts

• The writer Marek Krajewski unveiled the dwarf himself on 7 December 2019.
• Ebi is the short form of Eberhard, the first name of detective Mock.
• Krajewski kept an office in the Centennial Hall for years and gave the building a role in one of his novels.
• In Mock's time, Wrocław was called Breslau.
• The Centennial Hall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

How to Find This Dwarf

The Centennial Hall is about 3 km east of the Rynek, in the Szczytniki district. Trams run there from the city centre, so check the current line in a transport app and get off at the stop closest to the Hall. Ebi stands in front of the main entrance, at ul. Wystawowa 1. Gilbert Grape's hotel is about 360 metres to the north-west if you want a second dwarf. Your mission: play detective, count the windows of the great dome and write down three suspicious things you spot around the Hall.

Nearby Dwarfs

Frequently Asked Questions

Accessibility

Ground LevelOutdoor

He stands in front of the main entrance of the Centennial Hall, on the wide paved forecourt. The exact surface has not been checked on site, so confirm the access if you use a wheelchair or pushchair.