Tove Jansson’s murals at the Moomin themed kindergarten in Pori, Finland

In 1984, 70 year old Tove Jansson painted her last monumental work for the Taikurin hattu (Hobgoblin’s hat) kindergarten in Pori, Finland. Three-part mural presents Moominvalley in spring, summer and autumn.

Tove Jansson_Pori_1984_draft_spring

Tove Jansson_Pori_1984_summer

Tove Jansson_Pori_1984_autumn2

The kindergarten is designed by Tove’s life companion Tuulikki Pietilä’s brother and his wife, architects Reima and Raili Pietilä. The name of the kindergarten refers to the Tove’s book Finn Family Moomintroll (Taikurin hattu in Finnish.)

Taikurin hattu kindergarten is still in use, and the groups are named after Tove Jansson’s Moomin characters; Toffles, Niblings, Muddlers, Sniffs as well as Thingummies and Bobs. Kindergarten’s teachers are called Mymbles and the manager of the kindergarten is Hemulen. Who wouldn’t want to be in a such day care center?

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