Something Finnish is big in Japan?
Supposedly, yes.
The Moomins, which is a collection of stories by author and artist Tove Jansson, who drew her first character of the set as a teen in the 1930s. Moomins are everywhere in Finland and are considered a national treasure. Though it is only after over two decades in Finland, that I started appreciating them at all, and that is because I read one of the books of short stories to my daughter recently, and discovered, that they are quite profound and beautifully written. Prior to this, I had only seen some of the cartoons (in Finnish) and listened to the annoying Finnish voices of the characters. Reading the books to my daughter however, slowed it all down, and started to build the world for me.
I will read more to my daughter, for both her and I to enjoy.
The museum has been in the city of Tampere at the concert hall for a few years now, and is visited by many Finns, but also many Japanese. I think that the original cartoons were animated in Japan, and they have made an impact on their culture too. However, the museum is filled with stories of Jansson's life and examples of her art, which again, I didn't fully appreciate earlier.
I think that some of the pen sketches themselves have flavours of traditional Japanese art, but Jansson also painted and sculpted, and she and her partner (a graphic designer) also created tableaus together. The images I have added here are some of the collection of drawings and the tableaus on display.
The style of drawing I think is what has surprised me, because they are very simple, yet there is a massive amount of emotion transmitted through them. They capture the essence of Finnish culture perhaps, where there is a trust in the world and happiness with the simple life, but also an underlying sadness, always just a step from despair.
The stories themselves are quite amazing and even could be considered epic, considering the range they cover, the character depth, and the lore of the world that has been created. There are no humans as far as I can tell in this world, they are all creatures, similar to some we know, but never quite the same. It is almost like a slight dimensional shift, but they are incredibly relatable, because the characters and situations they face reflect our own. For those with children, I really recommend ordering some of these books and reading them together. And, while I haven't read any, Jansson also wrote some books for adults too, and I would be interested to discover what insight they bring.
Tove Jansson is worth reading about. She seems to have led an interesting life in many respects, and contributed in many ways, but looking through her work, it is clear that she was a natural artist. I think she would have been an incredibly interesting person to have a philosophical discussion with.
The museum is relatively small, but it is worth the visit if in the city of Tampere and, a must go for anyone who is into the Moomin stories. I have been a couple times earlier, and every time I have been there there are Japanese tourists who have made the trip to Finland specifically to see Moomin content. Which is surprising.
As said, I am not a fan of the commercialised view of these characters, but I think that once all of that has been stripped away, there is a beauty in the stories and the world created. Perhaps it is partly because I have been in the country for so long now, that I can relate to a lot of the world they live, and the complex circumstances they find themselves in. Yet, they look at life with a simplicity and openness, a fearlessness that I don't possess myself.
But perhaps if I read more of the stories, I will discover how to be a little more Moomin.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
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