Adventures in Moominland Resource Pack

16 Dec 2016 – 23 Apr 2017 How to use Books this resource

This resource pack is for primary school teachers working with pupils aged 7 – 11. The resource can be used to extend your student’s experience back at school post-exhibition visit to Southbank Centre’s Adventures in Moominland, as well as being an introduction for pupils who have not experienced the exhibition.

The resource explores the work of Tove Jansson, particularly how she drew inspiration from the world around her and provides activities which can be incorporated into your own lessons.

Tove Jansson Exhibition About Southbank Centre Moomins and Comet in Moominland Finn Family Moomintroll the Great Flood 1946 1948 & The Moomins Southbank Centre presents an Southbank Centre is a world-famous, immersive and interactive exhibition multi-venue arts centre in London, 1939 – 1940 (published 1945) Comet in Moominland is often This book owes its title in translation Born 9 August 1914, Tove Jansson is which explores the internationally with a dynamic year-round festivals seen as the first novel in the series to the fact that it was the first Moomin undoubtedly one of the world’s best recognised and renowned stories of the programme and an inclusive ethos. A story about Moominmamma’s and as it introduces many of the main book to be published in English, and known Finnish artists and also the most Moomin family through the life and eyes Southbank Centre is the UK’s largest Moomintroll’s search for the missing characters, like Snufkin and was actually marketed as the first in the widely read Finnish author abroad. of its Finnish author Tove Jansson. arts centre, founded with the Festival of Moominpappa and how they found the Snorkmaiden, and is set in series until the 1980s. Her lifework is immeasurably valuable Britain in 1951. their way to the Moominvalley. Moominvalley. because of her success as a writer, This exhibition presents new insights The 1961 English publication features artist and cartoonist. into Tove Jansson’s life and the It’s a place where people experience a foreword ‘by Moominmamma’, where influences behind her work with rare world-class art and culture that she explains the nature of Moomins for She was a multi-talented artist who is archive objects and illustrations built stimulates, inspires, educates and fear that English children may not have mostly remembered as the creator of into the experience. The exhibition amazes. Our festival programme heard of them the Moomins, the central characters displays objects never before exhibited encompasses art, theatre, dance, in a series of adventure books and in the UK: from original illustration; classical and contemporary music, comic strips. The Moomin books have artworks and 3D models; to letters literature and debate. been translated into approximately 50 and personal items from Tove’s studio languages. Tove passed away on 27 in Helsinki and her family island of Our educational and participatory June 2001. Klovharu, where she lived for almost programmes use culture as a way to 30 years. inspire learning, understanding and tolerance. The show is part of Nordic Matters – a year-long exploration of Nordic art and culture at Southbank Centre throughout 2017.

Moominland Midwinter Moominpapa at Sea 1957 1965

This book sees Jansson adopt a darker, Moominpappa is dissatisfied at life in more introspective tone compared to Moominvalley so organises the Moomin the earlier books. Often in the book, family to set off on a journey to find a Moomintroll is either lonely, miserable, lighthouse in the sea, because even the angry or scared – the result of being home-loving Moomins need a change of forced to survive in a world to which he scenery sometimes feels he does not belong.

While preserving the charm of the previous novels, the story involves a more in-depth exploration of Moomintroll’s character.

2 3 Characters Activities

Background Activity 1:

Tove Jansson lived in Helsinki, Finland Imaginary Characters and created the Moomins. She often took inspiration for her characters from Like Tove, think about the people the things around her - family, friends around you. These could be family, and public figures. Moomintroll was friends, teachers, television actors. Moominpappa her imaginary friend who followed her Use elements from these people as Moominvalley Moominhouse inspiration to describe and draw your Moominvalley is an idyllic and The Moominhouse is blue and Moominpappa is boyish, everywhere and whom she created very own imaginary character. peaceful place where the Moomins has the same shape as a ceramic adventurous and enjoys a whole world for. Moomintroll was live in harmony with nature. fireplace. philosophical thinking, created when she and her brother used to write their thoughts on the wall Hints: What does your character look of their outhouse. One day after an like? What kind of personality do they impossible argument with her brother, have? What do they wear? What item do she decided to draw the ugliest figure they always choose to take with them she could. This became the very first on their adventures? Are they naughty Moomintroll. like Little My or are they frightening like the Groke?

Moomintroll Moominmamma Snorkmaiden Moomintroll is interested in Moominmamma is calm, collected Snorkmaiden is happy and everything he sees, the world is full and never lets little things get on energetic, although her habit of of exciting things to investigate! her nerves. suddenly changing her mind can sometimes irritate people a bit.

Snufkin Little My Too-Ticky Snufkin is a vagabond who wanders Little My is brave and fearless, and Too-Ticky a wise woman who knows the world fishing and playing the is eager to join the Moomins on their how to solve all sorts of dilemmas in harmonica. He carries everything adventures a sensible and practical way. he needs in his backpack.

Thingumy and Bob Hemulen The Groke Thingumy and Bob are inseparable Hemulens are great believers in The Groke is an ominous creature and almost always walk around order and expect all rules to be whose frightening presence scares hand-in-hand and speak in such a obeyed to the letter. everyone wherever she goes. strange way.

4 5 Background Activity 2: Background Activity 3:

Tove Jansson ensured that elements of New worlds and events Tove Jansson lived much of her life Islands and Homes her life were present in every creature on her own island, which was called she created for the Moomin world. Two Take a moment to think about your Klovharun. In fact, Moominvalley was Design a new home for your imaginary of her earliest books, Moomins & the surroundings, situations and the events inspired by this island, right down to character. Would it be similar to where Great Flood and Comet in Moominland taking place around you. Split into the kinds of vegetation you could find in you live now? Would it be large or small? were written at a time in Tove’s life when groups and ask each group to come up Moominvalley and the presence of the Would it be dark? Would they live alone? her and the people around her were with ideas to create a new imaginary sea. If your character had enough space in experiencing hardship and war. world for either the existing Moomins their house for a spare room what would characters or for their brand new Throughout all of the Moomin stories, they use it for? characters. the central characters lived in various homes inspired by island living, Hints: What events have you seen in including caves and lighthouses. the news (refugee crisis)? What places have you been to visit, either at home or on holiday? What is happening in the area you live in or within your school? What do the landscapes in your new world look like? What events in your own life can you incorporate into your new world?

An illustration from the Moominvalley Collection © Moomin Characters™

Radio Background Activity 4:

Southbank Centre’s Adventures in Cartoon Strips Moominland features some of Tove’s original cartoon strips. During the Using the five panels on the next page, Camping tent 1950s, a London publisher showed huge create your own cartoon strip for your interest in Tove Jansson’s illustrations. imaginary character. This began a body of work which saw Tove and her brother creating regular Hints: Try to keep the amount of text cartoon strips that at one point featured you use in each panel to a minimum, in 120 daily newspapers. so that it’s easy to follow and enjoy. We recommend limiting the number of speech balloons you use to two per panel.

6 7 Further Reading

Additional Resources

Moomins Official Website Facebook Page Twitter Links to Additional Moomin Activities

Southbank Centre Schools Homepage Mailing List

Southbank Centre Facebook Twitter

Contacts

Alton Brown Education Manager (Schools), Southbank Centre [email protected]

Lucy Wells Education Manager (Communities), Southbank Centre [email protected]

Alice Chesterman Education Manager (Youth), Southbank Centre alice.chesterman@southbankcentre. co.uk

Marie Ortinau Education Manager (Courses), Southbank Centre [email protected]

Archive and artefacts courtesy of Tampere Art Museum and Moomin Characters Ltd.

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