Przedszkoluduś

Story

Przedszkoluduś looks like the cheeky little boy of the dwarf world. He kneels at the pavement in front of a pink wall at Iwana Pawłowa 6a, wearing a plain T-shirt and a pointed cap, with a tiny smile on his lips as if he has just been called in from the playground. The dwarfs say he keeps an eye on the little ones who come and go all day, and that he is quite sure nobody ever napped as well as he does. Take a good look at his face: it is far more like a child's than the bearded faces of most Wrocław dwarfs.

History & Significance

Wrocław's bronze dwarfs grew out of the Orange Alternative, a peaceful, absurdist protest movement of the 1980s whose members painted dwarfs on city walls. Since 2005 the city has filled its streets with bronze dwarfs, and there are now hundreds of them. Przedszkoluduś was made by Beata Zwolańska-Hołod and, according to the dwarf map wromap.pl, appeared on 1 June 2017. A second, older dwarf called Przedszkoludek (by Katarzyna Nowak, listed as appearing on 14 November 2009 and standing inside the building) is only about 11 m away. Who commissioned Przedszkoluduś is not publicly documented.

Inspiration

His name combines przedszkole (kindergarten, nursery school) with the dwarf ending -duś, so it means roughly 'little kindergarten boy'. A city list of kindergartens shows a public kindergarten, Przedszkole nr 87, at the same address, Iwana Pawłowa 6a. The photo shows a child-like face without a beard, a short-sleeved T-shirt and a cap with a bent tip, which fits the theme. No source we found explains the choice in more detail.

Fun Facts

• His name is a mix of the Polish word przedszkole, meaning kindergarten, and a dwarf-style ending.
• According to wromap.pl he appeared on 1 June 2017, which is Children's Day in Poland.
• Another dwarf, Przedszkoludek, stands only about 11 m to the north-west, so the two are practically a pair.
• Unlike most Wrocław dwarfs he has no beard, and his face looks like a child's.
• The dwarf map warns that access can be limited here by a gate or a fence, so look from the pavement and respect the kindergarten.

How to Find This Dwarf

Look for Iwana Pawłowa 6a, where a kindergarten is listed. Przedszkoluduś is at that address, and the map notes that access may be restricted by a gate or fence, so admire him from where you are allowed to stand. If you find Przedszkoludek first, Przedszkoluduś is about 11 m to the south-east of him.

Nearby Dwarfs

Frequently Asked Questions

Accessibility

Ground LevelOutdoor

Outdoor statue at pavement level; the photo shows small paving slabs. The dwarf map warns that access can be limited by a gate or fence at this address, and we have not checked opening hours or step-free access.