The year 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Finland. To celebrate this, the Mori Arts Center Gallery in Roppongi, Tokyo, has as of this week opened a grand exhibition showcasing the story of the Moomins. The exhibition, “Moomin - The Art and the Story”, will be held in the Mori Arts Center Gallery from 9th April to 16th June, after which it will tour throughout Japan. The exhibition is the largest-ever touring exhibition of Moomin art.
The exhibition provides a broad overview of Tove Jansson’s Moomin art all the way from the 1940s to the end of her life. The history of the Moomins will be explored through over 500 pieces of Moomin-related artworks, many of which are showcased in Japan for the very first time. The artworks are selected from the Moomin Museum and from Tove Jansson’s personal collection. The exhibition features a wide range of material from original sketches and illustrations to copies of Moomin novels and videos of animation. Jansson’s love for Japan is also illustrated through her personal sketches and photos of Japan.
Mori Arts Center Gallery is located in the same building with the Mori Art Museum, on the 52nd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. The gallery is located on the same floor as the famous observatory deck, guaranteeing the Moomin exhibition one of the most looked for locations in Japan, with views across the whole of Tokyo.
The touring exhibition is produced by Japan’s leading newspaper publisher, Asahi Shimbun. After Tokyo, the exhibition will continue its tour of Japanese cities including Oita, Kanazawa and Nagoya, continuing until March 2021.
Official website (in Japanese): https://moomin-art.jp/