Gaviusz, Dwarf statue in Przedmieście Oławskie, Wrocław, Poland
Gaviusz is a small bronze dwarf statue positioned at ankle height along the street, with careful details carved into its surface. It is one of hundreds of similar sculptures scattered throughout the city that visitors encounter in unexpected places.
The statue was installed in 2014, following a movement that started in the 1980s when people created small dwarf figures as a form of expression and protest. What began as informal street art eventually became a permanent and widely recognized feature of the city.
Gaviusz belongs to a collection that has become woven into how residents and visitors experience the city, with each dwarf marking a spot that people return to and discuss.
This small figure sits on a regular street and can easily be missed, so it helps to look down and around carefully. Maps and mobile apps created specifically for this purpose show locations and make it easier to find multiple statues in one visit.
This particular dwarf carries a personal name, Gaviusz, which residents and regular visitors recognize and use when discussing their neighborhood. Each figure in the collection has received its own identity, making people feel connected to individual statues rather than a generic collection.
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