Tampere’s pop-up exhibitions bring the Moomins, Tove Jansson’s bond with nature, and hope to Seattle

The National Nordic Museum, which showcases Nordic art and culture, opened its Moomin pop-up exhibitions originating from Tampere at the end of March. According to the National Nordic Museum, the exhibition’s first week received an enthusiastic and joyful response from visitors and the community.

- The opening had an incredibly warm and uplifting energy. At a time when many people are seeking connection and meaning, these exhibitions offer a gentle but powerful reminder of empathy, resilience, and community, said Marney Freeland, Director of Marketing of the National Nordic Museum.

– The Moomins attract significant interest in the United States, and Tampere, as the home of the world’s only Moomin Museum, is perfectly positioned to respond to this demand. It is wonderful to hear that the exhibitions and their important themes have been warmly received in Seattle, says Tampere’s Deputy Mayor Anne-Mari Jussila.

Designed especially for families with children, the atmospheric The Moomins’ Sea Adventures pop-up exhibition showcases the Moomins’ love for sea adventures. A large lighthouse surrounded by rowboats invites visitors to embark on their own journeys. The photographic exhibition Tove and the Sea leads visitors to the seaside landscapes that were central to Tove Jansson’s life.

The exhibitions are open until the end of October.
 

An Ocean Apart, Yet Archipelago Nature Connects Across Time

Nature plays a major role in Jansson’s works. The sea had a profound impact on her life and art, and it is also at the heart of the Seattle exhibitions.

- Even though the exhibition is located on the opposite side of the Atlantic, we recognize the similarity between Tove Jansson’s Pellinge archipelago and the landscapes here in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle has historically had a large number of immigrants from the Nordic countries, and this shared natural environment has played large part in their choosing to settle here, reflects Lath Carlson, CEO of the National Nordic Museum.

Among those immigrants were the parents of Jansson’s partner, Tuulikki Pietilä, who—like many Finns—moved to Seattle in search of a better life. They later returned to Finland in the 1920s, settling first in Tampere when Tuulikki was four years old.

- These exhibitions are yet another example of how the Moomins’ nature-themed values connect people timelessly across geographical boundaries. Here in Tampere, we are very proud of these exhibitions and the themes they represent, says Jussila.