Paintings by world-famous Moomins creator Tove Jansson on show in Finland

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Paintings by the world-famous Moomins creator Tove Jansson are on show in Finland.

The exhibition at the Helsinki Art Museum marks the 80th anniversary of the publication of Jansson’s book The Moomins and the Great Flood, which introduced the creatures to the world.

Prior to the success of the Moomins, Jansson first made a name for herself as a talented artist who painted on commission in public spaces during the 1940s and 1950s.

The exhibition features her public murals, including sketches that were found in her studio and have never before been shown to the public.

“This exhibition at HAM—Helsinki Art Museum—is special because it’s the first time we can see the wholeness of Tove Jansson’s all public artworks that she has ever made,” says Heli Harni, curator of the exhibition.

Five original murals and several competition paintings, as well as photographic reproductions of works that couldn’t be moved to the museum, are displayed at the exhibition called Paradise.

Harni hopes the exhibition will show visitors Jansson’s creative versatility.

“It’s a bit different than her storytelling in her books. And as we know, Moomin books and the story of Moomins going and building their own Paradise in the Moomin Valley,” she says.

The exhibition also features a display of early edition Moomin books.

“It is the jubilee year of the first Moomin book, as we know The Moomins and the Great Flood. And this theme is kind of connected to also this exhibition. And we have also here animation from the first book,” says Harni.

While an exhibition dedicated to Tove Jansson must of course refer to the Moomins, the focus is centered on her public works for factory walls, hospitals and nurseries.

Jansson’s works, some with hidden Moomins, will be on display in Helsinki until April 2025 before some of the creations depart for Japan on a two-year tour.

This article was provided by The Associated Press.

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[Exhibition of Moomins creator Tove Jansson’s paintings at the Helsinki Art Museum]

Woman looking through telescope at a sketch for Jansson’s mural “Fairytale Panorama”]

[Telescope and a sketch of Jansson’s mural “Fairytale Panorama”]

[Visitors walking by Jansson’s wall painting “Resting After Work” for a factory’s staff canteen]

[Jansson’s painting on electricity for a factory’s staff canteen]

Heli Harni (interview): “This exhibition at HAM – Helsinki Art Museum – is special because it’s the first time we can see the wholeness of Tove Jansson’s all public artworks that she has ever made.”

[Visitors looking at Jansson’s painting “Fairytale”]

[“Fairytale” painting]

[Visitors looking at Jansson’s “Paradise” painting]

[“Paradise”]

[Woman looking at Jansson’s paintings of Moomins for the murals of the children’s ward at Aurora Hospital]

[Moomin painting]

Heli Harni (interview): “We have named the exhibition, it’s called ‘Paradise’, and that’s kind of a top theme that connects with all these major views that we can see, the landscapes here, and how Tove Jansson worked to develop this idea. And it was a bit different than her storytelling in her books. And as we know, Moomin books and the story of Moomins going and building their own Paradise in the Moomin Valley.”

[Visitors looking at Jansson’s Moomin books]

[Jansson’s book, title reading (Swedish): “The Moomins and the Great Flood”]

[Visitors looking at Jansson’s Moomin books]

Heli Harni (interview): “It is the Jubilee year of the first Moomin book, as we know ‘The Moomins and the Great Flood.’ And this theme is kind of connected to also this exhibition. And we have also here animation from the first book.”

[Visitors walking in the exhibition hall]

[Man looking at Jansson’s “Party in the City” mural, made for Helsinki City Hall’s restaurant]

[Self-portrait of Jansson and a Moomin featured in the mural]

[Sketch for the Teuva Church altarpiece]

Heli Harni (interview): “Tove Jansson’s murals, they exist in a lot of places in Finland, in schools, in kindergarten, and as well in hospitals and a church. She also made one altarpiece, as we know, in northern Finland. And here we have also the sketches that she made for these murals. They are displayed here in our exhibition. And they were found for this exhibition for the first time. They were opened from the rolls and we have put the best of them on show here.”

[Jansson’s self-portrait]

[Visitors looking at Jansson’s self-portrait]

[Jansson’s self-portrait]

Heli Harni (interview): “She wanted to be, at the first place, a painter. That was her main goal, to be a good painter. But, of course, the Moomin took over her time and she had to do the illustration for the cartoons.”

[Jansson’s self-portraits]

[Visitors looking at Jansson’s self-portraits]

[Jansson’s self-portrait]

Nea Meyburgh (interview): “(I liked) everything, the colors, the nature. You can kind of see her in the art.”

[Visitor looking at Jansson’s family portrait]

[Jansson’s family portrait]

[Visitors looking at Jansson’s paintings]

Paula Ingram (interview): “I think she had original style. Now, it’s difficult to say if I would recognize her works without knowing that they’re hers. But I think maybe I could guess that this could be Tove Jansson. I think they’re easy for someone like me who is not really, like, connoisseur in art.”

[Visitors looking at Jansson’s work]

[Moomin featured in Jansson’s mural “Party in the City”]

This script was provided by The Associated Press.