[Photo from visithelsinki.fi]

The past year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Tove Jansson, artist, writer and creator of the Moomins. To celebrate this anniversary, special Tove 100 centenary events will be held throughout the year.

With her multifaceted life's work, Tove Jansson (1914-2001) became one of the key artists in Finnish visual art during the post-war golden age of modernism, although she is most widely known for having created the Moomins. Jansson’s immense international success made her one of the best-known Finnish artists in the world.

Tove – artist, writer, creator of the Moomins

Tove Jansson was born on 9 August 1914 in the Katjanokka district of Helsinki and grew up in an artist family whose open-minded and bohemian home atmosphere encouraged the talented Tove to search for her own artistic expression. Tove Jansson’s father Viktor Jansson (1886–1958) was a sculptor who often used his daughter as a model. For example, Tove Jansson modelled for the bronze sculptor Convolvulus in Kaisaniemi Park and for the mermaid in the sculpture Water Nymphs next to the Espa Stage in Esplanade Park.

Tove herself studied art in Stockholm and Helsinki, and she also sought inspiration from Paris and Italy.

In the late summer of 1944, Jansson rented an attic studio in the centre of the Helsinki at Ullanlinnankatu 1. The studio became her cherished home where she lived and worked in the autumn and winter. Summers were spent on the tiny island of Klovharu in the Gulf of Finland. Jansson loved the sea and the archipelago, which can be seen in her multifaceted art.

Back in her turret studio in the heart of Helsinki she created her most renowned paintings and texts. It was here that Jansson finished her first book featuring Moomintroll. The first Moomin book, The Moomins and the Great Flood, appeared in 1945. It was published in Swedish and illustrated by Tove Jansson herself. The book introduced Moomintroll and the others inhabitants of Moomin Valley for the first time. Thus began a series of books that eventually became the most visible and widely known aspect of Tove Jansson’s artistic career.

The studio would serve as her cherished home, a source of power and a haven for almost 60 years.

Tove 100 events

The life and legacy of Tove Jansson will be celebrated throughout 2014 with a wide range of special events. We recommend!

Ateneum Art Museum, 14 March – 7 September 2014

Ateneum will host a major centenary exhibition presenting Jansson’s impressive career as an artist, illustrator, political caricaturist, author and creator of the Moomin characters and stories. Try also the museum's funtest to see which of Tove's characters you are.

Tove Jansson – gentle philosopher and philanthropic anarchist,

guided walking tour

Helsinki Guides' Walking Tour takes a closer look at Tove's life and thoughts as well as visits places that were important to her. The tour starts from the Tove Jansson park in Katajanokka and lasts approximately 1,5-2 hours. The tour is available in several languages.

Mugs with a story to tell – Moomin 5 June - 31 August 2014

Arabia Gallery will in its summer exhibition present all the Arabia Moomin mugs and introduce the design behind it, Tove Slotte who has been drawing Moomin mugs from 1990’s at Arabia. The exhibition also features rare, never before seen Moomin mugs hand-painted by Tove Jansson herself.

Porvoo Art Factory, 7 July – 31 August 2014

The exhibition “Tove and the Archipelago” will explore the importance of the islands in Tove’s literary output.

Helsinki Book Fair, 24-27 October 2014

Moomin Characters and publishers will appear at a special Tove Jansson stand.

Further information on Tove100 anniversary year and events：www.tove100.fi.