Tove Jansson: Tales from the Nordic Archipelago
It is in many ways no surprise to discover that author and artist Tove Jansson, the creator of the strange and isolated world of The Moomins, lived on a private island, which forms part of the Finnish archipelago.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Jansson (1914-2001) the Institute of Contemporary Art is hosting an exhibition presenting original and unseen photographs documenting her life and work, as well as illustrated books and first editions.
Tove Jansson: Tales From the Archipelago looks to show what life on the island was like for Jansson.
She regularly spent the summer months on the island with her female companion Tuulikki Pietilä and the rest of her time at her studio in Helsinki.
The photographs in the exhibition were taken by C-G Hagström, a renowned photographer and close friend of Jansson, and her brother, the photographer Per Olov Jansson.
The exhibition has been curated by Finnish Institute in London director Susanna Pettersson and Finnish Institute in London head of events Animaya Grant with the ICA.
On the 18 July Hagström will come to the ICA for a special event where he will give a talk Culture Now where he’ll discuss his portraits of Jansson with Petterson.
The re-mastered feature film Moomin and Midsummer Madness will be shown on 9 and 10 August and a gallery tour with Petterson will be held on 21 August.
Tove Jansson: Tales from the Nordic Archipelago runs from 15 July – 24 August at Institute of Contemporary Arts, The Mall, London, SW1Y 5AH.
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I know this is old news, yet I stopped by to collect these wonderful photos, thank you.
Just wanted to comment these images can’t be from the 1930s, as she would have been in her 20s.