Solidarek
Solidarek is a bronze dwarf on a wall at plac Solidarności, arms raised in a V-sign and 'Solidarność' lettering on his shirt. He appeared on 4 June 2008.
Check In
Turn Your Walk Into an Adventure
Wrocław's streets are full of tiny hidden treasures. Every dwarf you discover gets added to your personal Dwarf Trail — a free collection of stamps, stories, and memories from your time in the city.
No rush — collect at your own pace.
No app download · Works on any phone
Solidarek
Your first check-in here always drops this card.Sign in and check in at this dwarf to collect its card.
Story
Solidarek never stops cheering. He is fixed high on a wall at plac Solidarności, with both arms up in a victory V and the word 'Solidarność' written across his T-shirt in the old protest lettering. His beard is long, his cap is pointed and his mouth is wide open, as if he is in the middle of a very big chant. Look up when you walk past: he is not at pavement level.
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. Solidarek was made by Beata Zwolańska-Hołod and, according to wromap.pl, appeared on 4 June 2008, which is also the date of the 1989 semi-free parliamentary elections. Who commissioned him is not publicly documented. A different dwarf, 'Krasnal Solidarności', is listed in a web search at another address, so do not mix the two up.
Inspiration
Solidarek is named after Solidarność (Solidarity), the independent trade union and social movement that grew in Poland in 1980. His V-sign and the lettering on his T-shirt, which in our photo reads like the union's logo style, make the link plain. He stands at plac Solidarności in the Szczepin district, a square whose name also refers to the movement.
Fun Facts
- Both of his hands make the V-sign.
- The lettering on his shirt looks like the style of the Solidarność logo.
- According to wromap.pl he appeared on 4 June 2008, the 19th anniversary of the 1989 elections.
- He is fixed to a wall rather than standing on the pavement, so look up.
- Barduś is the nearest dwarf, only about 25 m to the north-west.
How to Find This Dwarf
Go to plac Solidarności 1-5 in Szczepin and look up at the walls of the buildings; Solidarek is mounted on a wall, not at pavement level. Barduś is about 25 m to the north-west, and Futurek about 114 m to the south.
Nearby Dwarfs
See all Wrocław dwarfs on the dwarf list
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Solidarek dwarf?
At plac Solidarności 1-5 in the Szczepin district of Wrocław, fixed to a wall.
Why is the dwarf called Solidarek?
He is named after Solidarność, the independent trade union and movement of 1980. The photo shows lettering on his shirt in the style of its logo.
Who made Solidarek?
The dwarf map wromap.pl lists Beata Zwolańska-Hołod as the sculptor and 4 June 2008 as the date he appeared.
Accessibility
Outdoor
Outdoor statue fixed to a wall, above ground level, so it is best seen from a distance and a young child may need lifting to see it close. We have not verified the exact height or surface.
1000+ Dwarfs.
One City. Your Trail.
They're hiding on street corners, under bridges, perched on windowsills, crouching by fountains. Every dwarf you discover becomes a stamp on your Dwarf Trail — a free, personal record of your Wrocław adventure.