There are literally hundreds of gnomes peppered around Wrocław and the highest concentration of them are around the Old Town Square. I counted fourty-four in the short weekend I was there. Their origin stems back to communist times when creating them was symbolic for freedom and creativity. It began with paintings and evolved into bronze gnomes. Created by activist Waldemar Frydrych under the Orange Alternative in the eighties, the idea was to paint gnomes over the spots where the communist government had covered up anti-communist graffiti — turning censorship into satire. Hence, it was a way of conquering absurdity with absurdity. The consecutive models of gnomes began when the first went up on Świdnicka street. Each with their own characteristic are appropriately placed next to the building which reflect their attire or what they carry. For instance, a gnome looking over a baby in a cot lies outside a kindergarten. Another is of a pot-bellied one lying arms-outstretched on a plate outside food outlets. #sculpture #art #communism #photography