Special day commemorating 80 years of Moomin sees lengthy lines for anniversary mug souvenirs
In the world of Moomins, an exciting summer has been unfolding. The first major US exhibition of the Moomin universe opened its doors at the Brooklyn Public Library in New York, showcasing the work of Tove Jansson and her beloved characters [1]. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, fans queued eagerly for the latest Moomin mug release at Kitch'n, a store in Tromsø, Norway.
However, the Brooklyn Public Library exhibition has been embroiled in a controversy surrounding the character Stinky, a small troublemaker with antennae, who has been removed from some mural displays due to concerns about racial perception [2]. A supporter of the library raised questions about Stinky being perceived as a racist symbol, prompting the library to take a sensitivity-driven decision to ensure the exhibition environment was welcoming to all visitors, especially young children who might misinterpret the character's depiction without full context [1][2][3].
Despite the controversy, Stinky still appears in other parts of the exhibition and in the original Moomin books available to the public [1][3]. The exhibition, titled Tove Jansson and the Moomins: The Door Is Always Open, is a significant retrospective dedicated to Tove Jansson and her Moomin universe, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Moomins [4].
On the other side of the Atlantic, the excitement for the Moomin mug was palpable. Customers queued from 7 a.m. on Saturday, August 9, at Kitch'n, with many still waiting for their Moomin mug hours after the store opened [5]. Each year on Moomin day, a new limited edition Moomin mug is released, and the 2021 Moomin anniversary mug is no exception [6].
Anne Karin Samdal Remmer, managing director of Kitch'n at Jekta, compared the excitement for the Moomin mug to the release of a rare wine bottle [7]. Inger Malene Logje, an avid collector, arrived early at the Jekta shopping centre in Tromsø to secure the 2021 Moomin anniversary mug, just as she did last year [8]. Inger has been collecting Moomin mugs for several years and has built a collection of around 90 [9].
The Moomin universe, created by Tove Jansson, continues to inspire various forms of media, including books, films, TV series, and games [10]. Arabia's Moomin mugs have become highly sought-after collectibles, with previous Moomin day mugs fetching good prices on the second-hand market [11]. This year's Moomin anniversary mug is only available in a limited number of stores, making it an especially significant event for fans of the Moomins.
References: 1. The Brooklyn Public Library 2. Brooklyn Public Library Removes Moomin Character from Exhibition 3. The New York Times 4. Tove Jansson and the Moomins: The Door Is Always Open 5. Kitch'n 6. Moomin Day 7. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation 8. Inger Malene Logje 9. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation 10. Moomin 11. Auction Site
Followers of the Moomin lifestyle were delighted with the opening of the comprehensive exhibition titled Tove Jansson and the Moomins: The Door Is Always Open at the Brooklyn Public Library, showcasing the Moomin universe in a celebration of its 80th anniversary [4]. Meanwhile, fashion-and-beauty enthusiasts in Tromsø, Norway queued early to add to their home-and-garden collections with the latest Moomin mug release at Kitch'n [5].
