The "Moomin Exhibition: THE ART AND THE STORY" will be held at the Mori Arts Center Gallery from April 9 to June 16, 2019, showcasing a selection of original artwork and sketches from the Moomin novels from the Moomin Museum, the world's only Moomin museum, located in Tampere, Finland.




Moomin and his friends captivate fans worldwide with their adorable appearances and humorous sayings. The "Moomin" series, created by Finland's leading artist, Tove Jansson, is beloved in a variety of forms, including novels, picture books, newspaper comic strips, animation, and merchandise. The Moomin Museum in Finland, which reopened after a complete makeover in 2017, has a collection of approximately 2,000 works. The Moomin Exhibition: THE ART AND THE STORY will feature approximately 500 exhibits from the museum, including original drawings and sketches from the Moomin novels, as well as illustrations from the Swedish-language political satire magazine GARM, which Tove drew before working on the Moomin novels, showcasing the diverse art and profound storytelling that the museum has to offer.


There are nine Moomin novels published: "The Little Troll and the Big Flood," "The Comet in Moominvalley," "The Moomins," "Moominpappa's Memories," "The Summer Festival in Moominvalley," "Winter in Moominvalley," "Moominpappa at Sea," and "November in Moominvalley." The exhibition will feature original illustrations of famous scenes from all nine novels and the picture book "Moominvalley: The Wonderful Journey."

Also on display are Moomin figures from Atelier Fauni, also known as the "phantom Moomin dolls," Easter cards, original artwork for advent calendars, and bank and newspaper advertisements. Also on display will be the Moomin Characters Company's valuable collection, including some of Tove's last remaining works. Visitors can experience the diverse expressions of Moomin and his friends never before seen in novels or picture books.




2019 marks the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and Japan. The exhibition will showcase Tove's beloved Japan, which she visited frequently, through photographs and sketches, as well as displaying ukiyo-e prints alongside Moomin. For preservation reasons, reproductions of ukiyo-e prints may be displayed depending on the exhibition period and venue.


The exhibition is scheduled to travel nationwide. The exhibition is scheduled to be held at the Oita Prefectural Art Museum from June 29 to September 1, 2019, the Matsuzakaya Museum of Art in Nagoya from December 7 to January 19, 2020, and the Iwate Prefectural Museum of Art (planned) from April 11 to May 31, 2020, as well as other locations.