2021-06-08

Järnpojke - Little Boy Who Looks At The Moon

Pojke som tittar på månen — The sculpture of the tiny "little boy who looks at the moon" is considered the smallest monument in Sweden. Another name for the small attraction is "Iron Boy" — Järnpojke, Also known by the popular nickname Olle.

Pojke som tittar på månen

Järnpojke

The Swedish sculptor Liss Eriksson, who created the monument in 1954, became his sitter: a baby dreamily looking at the sky is the embodiment of the author's childhood memories, who, suffering from insomnia, looked at the moon for a long time. "Boy", with his arms around his knees, is made of sandstone and wrought iron, with a height of about 15 cm, and was installed in 1967 at Bollhustäppan in the old town of Stockholm, Sweden.

A little boy who looks at the Moon

The boy sits on a bed located on a fairly wide pedestal. It reflects the childhood memories of sculptor Liss Eriksson, who sat on his bed during sleepless nights and looked at the moon outside the window. The monument is located in the courtyard behind the building of the Finnish Church, "Finska Kyrkan", Södermalmin. It is not always mentioned in city guidebooks, but it is always popular with tourists. It is believed that if you pat the boy on the head, it will bring good luck and help fulfil your wish, and therefore the boy's head is shiny from constant touching. In addition, coins or sweets are put onto the monument's pedestal, and the monument itself is often dressed up in winter hats and scarves, specially woven for the Iron Boy by his lovers.

The design language of the sculpture is stylised, too. The restraint in the form contrasts with the warmth of the piece. The piece is probably one of the city's most popular works. The little boy seems to evoke feelings of tenderness in the viewers.

First Image / Source