Słupnik
Słupnik at Plac Solny 15 is a bronze dwarf hugging a lamppost high above the street, part of the Słupniki Solne (Salt Square Pole-Climbers) made by Michał Osuch.
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Słupnik
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Story
Look up! This Słupnik did not wait on the pavement like most dwarfs; he shinned up a lamppost at Plac Solny 15 and wrapped his arms and legs round the pole. In the photo he is a dark bronze dwarf in a pointed cap with a beard, hanging on tight a few metres above the heads of passers-by. He enjoys the view so much he has never come down, and he is a lot easier to spot if you remember to glance up from the shop windows.
History & Significance
Wikipedia credits all the Słupnik sets - Solne, Świdnickie and Oławskie - to sculptor Michał Osuch. Wromap.pl lists this dwarf as a Słupnik Solny at Plac Solny 15. I could not find the creation date of the Plac Solny pole-climbers. Wikipedia notes that some pole-climbers in the other Słupnik sets have gone missing; its address lists for the Świdnicka, Solny and Oławska sets do not match wromap.pl, so the exact lamp is taken from wromap.pl and the app's coordinates. The tradition behind Wrocław's dwarfs began with the Orange Alternative, a playful 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.
Inspiration
A 'słupnik' is the Polish word for a stylite, a hermit who lived on top of a pillar; the dwarfs borrow the idea and perch on lampposts instead. The sources I found do not name a sponsor.
Fun Facts
- 'Słupnik' is the Polish word for a pillar-dwelling hermit (a stylite), here applied to a dwarf on a lamppost.
- He clings to a lamppost, so you have to look up to find him.
- Wikipedia credits the Słupnik sets to sculptor Michał Osuch.
- Wromap.pl lists him at Plac Solny 15.
- There are several dwarfs called Słupnik in the centre, so check the nearby names and distances to be sure which one you found.
How to Find This Dwarf
Look up at the lampposts around Plac Solny 15: this Słupnik clings to the pole above head height, so he is out of reach and easy to miss. Słupnik is 19 m west, Demokracja is 27 m northwest and Akademiusz is 28 m south.
Nearby Dwarfs
See all Wrocław dwarfs on the dwarf list
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Słupnik dwarf at Plac Solny 15?
On a lamppost at Plac Solny 15 in Wrocław's Old Town, high above the pavement. Wromap.pl lists it among the Słupniki Solne.
Why is Słupnik on a lamppost?
A 'słupnik' is a pillar-dwelling hermit; the dwarfs perch on lampposts instead. Visit Wrocław's page on the Świdnicka set says the dwarfs climbed the lamps out of curiosity.
Who made the Słupnik dwarfs?
Wikipedia credits sculptor Michał Osuch for the Słupnik sets.
Accessibility
Outdoor
The dwarf is mounted high on a lamppost, so you can see him from the pavement but cannot touch him. Photographing needs a zoom lens or a good look upwards. The surrounding pavement is flat; I could not confirm the surface type.
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