Typical, isn’t it? You wait years for a Moomin exhibition, and then two come along at once.
The Southbank Centre has announced Adventures in Moominland, a guided tour of Tove Jansson’s creations and life that runs from December 16th to April 23rd next year in the Foyer Spaces as part of their extensive Nordic Matters season.
According to the press blurb, visitors will “Join us on an enthralling journey through our wondrous Moominland – clamber through forests, huddle in caves or set sail on the high seas to try and find the Moomin family. Along the way you can learn how Tove Jansson created these unique landscapes, characters and stories, while uncovering some special original drawings.”
Tours run every fifteen minutes – suggesting a controlled environment and schedule, rather than letting visitors wander through the exhibition at their own pace – and will cost you up to £15 per person, making this a rather costly family day out. Those wishing to experience the exhibition without the presence of excitable children can do 7pm tours at weekends.
Booking information here: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/adventures-in-moominland-99751
If you want less expensive Nordic fantasy creatures at the Southbank Centre, you can check out their Gonks installation, which is free – the mythical creatures will be scattered around the building from November 11th until January 15th.
Coming later in 2017, Dulwich Picture Gallery also delves into the world of Moomins, but goes beyond that to look at the wider work and life of creator Tove Jansson. Featuring around 150 works from private collections and museums in Finland, the exhibition will cover her fine art work as well as the evolution of the Moomins, and runs from October 25th to January 28th 2018. Tickets go on sale in February next year.
http://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/2017/october/tove-jansson/