Explored the magical world of Moomins at a Brooklyn Library
Visited a Moomin exhibit in New York and got hit with nostalgia, deep thoughts about art, and serious Brooklyn Library envy.
Over the weekend, I took a little trip to New York! I used to live there, so I caught up with old friends, did some shopping, checked out new spots… and of course, I couldn’t miss a few art museums.
One of the highlights was visiting the exhibit Tove Jansson and the Moomins: The Door Is Always Open at the Central Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. Apparently, Moomin is turning 80 this year, so events are happening all over the world to celebrate! I’ve never really heard people in the U.S. talk about Moomins much, but in Japan, they’re super popular. As a fan of Nordic design and storytelling, I had to go.
It’s meant for kids, but the slightly mysterious vibe in the artwork makes it feel so unique!
The moment I stepped into the library, I was greeted by giant Moomin displays—there was even a beautiful “door” panel right at the entrance!
The exhibition shared everything from the author’s background and the origins of Moomin, to her struggles with commercial pressure as Moomin grew in popularity. It even explored how her time for personal art projects got eaten up, and how the beloved characters eventually became a creative burden. I learned that she chose to end the Moomin story in a rare way for a character-driven series—by having the Moomins leave Moominvalley to go on a new journey.
If this had been my childhood library, I totally would’ve begged my parents to take me there all the time!
There was also a children’s section filled to the brim with adorable Moomin-themed designs. I couldn’t help but sigh and wish I lived near the Brooklyn Library. It was just that magical!