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Who are the
Moomins?
The Moomins of
Moominvalley appeared
in nine books and a
comic strip.
Moomintroll
Trusting, happy-go-
lucky Moomintroll is the
centre of most of the
books and espouses Tove
Jansson’s philosophy of
regarding the world
with wonder.
Mooominmamma
and Moominpappa
Moomintroll’s mother
allows her son and his
friends many liberties
and is rarely without
her handbag, while
Moominpappa is easy to
spot in his black top hat.
Sniff, Snufkin
and Little My
Moomintroll’s friends
include adventurous
half-siblings Snufkin
and Little My, and the
mouse-like Sniff, who’s
one of the series’ few
avaricious characters.
The Snork Maiden
The object of
Moomintroll’s affections,
the blonde Snork
Maiden changes colour
according to her moods.
Other characters
The Moomins’ paths
cross with a host of
other characters on their
adventures, including the
ghost-like Hattifatteners,
who grow from
seeds, the bumptious
Hemulens, the Snork and
the scary Groke.
WORDS OMER ALI. PHOTO ASSISTANT HONGMIAO SHI. POOL MURAL BY CUT GL ASS STUDIOS LTD
Meet the man who’s been photographing
Moomin World every day for 12 years
T
auno Vintola has been taking
pictures of Moomin World, in his
hometown of Naantali, every day
it’s been open for 12 years. The
70-
year-old former sales
advertising manager from Helsinki has exclusive
rights to photograph the Finnish attraction for
media use, although the opportunity first came
along by chance.
“
It was an accident,” says Vintola. “I was
photographing my hometown, Naantali, and
I started talking with the owner of
Moomin World, Dennis Livson. We
were on the shoreline, where there
are nice places to sit down and take
some sun. Suddenly he asked me,
‘
Are you interested in photographing
Moomin World?’”
Vintola had visited Moomin World,
which celebrated its 20th anniversary
last year, with his children previously
and readily accepted this new
assignment in 2001. “I was familiar
with the story, Tove Jansson… I had
read the books and was acquainted
with the philosophy of the Moomins.”
He has visited every day since – during the
summer season from early June to late August
plus Magic Week, in the Finnish winter school
holidays – so what does he photograph each time?
“
Of course the Moomins and the reactions of the
spectators; there are different kinds of programmes
and Moomin stories, and every summer there are
very many new things, so I look for those.”
If you’re planning a visit, Vintola specially
recommends the Moomin House – “children
like climbing up there” – the shops and eating
places; “It’s different from other
amusement parks in Finland, there
are no carousels or those kind of
amusements – people always tell me
they like it because there is much fuel
for the imagination.”
When I ask him how much
longer he sees himself returning to
the attraction, Vintola is initially
confused. I rephrase the question: how
many more summers does he think
he will photograph Moomin World?
“
Several summers. I’m in perfect
condition despite my age; it’s nice to
be there.”
vintola.fi
Top
⁄
Characters and
stories come to the fore
in Moomin World, in
Naantali, Finland
Above
⁄
Photographer
Tauno Vintola, 70, doesn’t
envisage his daily trips to
Moomin World ending any
time soon
MoominWorldandme
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