Two years ago I went on a trip around the Baltic Sea, visiting Copenhagen, Stockholm and finally also Helsinki. It was 2014, a 100th anniversarry of Tove Jannson’s birth, and the whole Finland seemed to be celebrating, with special events and exibitions of her works. I found a map showing all the places that were most important to her, and I decided to try and see how the city looked like for her.
* map by Heidi Ettanen and Jonas Forth, you can also find it at Moomin.com
1. Tove Jansson’s childhood home, where the family lived during the years 1914-1933 (Luotsikatu 4)
2. Tove used to play by the Uspenski Cathedral and the park next to it will soon be named Tove Jansson park. (Kanavakatu 1)
3. Tove used to go skating on the ice and later on this was also the place from where the ferry to Pellinge departed (Halkolaituri dock at Pohjoisranta)
4. Market Square, Helsinki
5. The water fountain Lek II / Vattennymfer by Viktor Jansson can be found at the Esplanadi Park. Tove Jansson stood as model for the larger mermaid.
6. The water fountain Hejsan / Snålskjuts by Viktor Jansson (The western part of Esplanadi Park next to Svenska Teatern)
7. Tove Jansson’s studio where she lived from 1944 until she passed away in 2001. Tuulikki Pietilä alos had a studio in the same building. (Ullanlinnankatu 1)
8. Tove’s elementary school (now The Design Museum at Korkeavuorenkatu 23)
9. The Observatory – a place to see comets (Kopernikuksentie 1)
10. Tove studied at the art school that is now known as Ateneum from 1933 to 1937 (Kaivokatu 2)
11. The statue Sjöjungfru by Viktor Jansson. Tove Jansson is said to be the model for the statue. (The inner yard at South Esplanadi 22)
12. Tove Jansson was laid to rest at Hietaniemi cemetery. You can find her grave next to the old chapel (Mechelinkatu 2)
13. Lallukka Artists’ Home, where the Jansson family lived from the early 1930s. Tove moved to her own studio in 1944 (Apollonkatu 13)
14. The Convolvulus statue by Viktor Jansson (In Kaisaniemi Park behind the National Theatre)
15. The Arvid Mörne memorial by Viktor Jansson (The corner of Itäinen puistotie and Ehrenströmintie close to Kaivopuisto)
It was not easy to find all of them, I also had only one day to do it, but here you can see some of the places I visited:
The water fountain Lek II / Vattennymfer by Viktor Jansson can be found at the Esplanadi Park. Tove Jansson stood as model for the larger mermaid.
The statue Sjöjungfru by Viktor Jansson. Tove Jansson is said to be the model for the statue. (The inner yard at South Esplanadi 22)
Tove Jansson’s childhood home, where the family lived during the years 1914-1933 (Luotsikatu 4)
Surroundings of Tove’s elementary school (now The Design Museum at Korkeavuorenkatu 23)
Lallukka Artists’ Home, where the Jansson family lived from the early 1930s. Tove moved to her own studio in 1944 (Apollonkatu 13)
Tove Jansson’s studio where she lived from 1944 until she passed away in 2001. Tuulikki Pietilä alos had a studio in the same building. (Ullanlinnankatu 1)
Tove’s grave at Hietaniemi cemetery. You can find it next to the old chapel (Mechelinkatu 2)
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