Haute Beauty Expert-Approved Holiday Gifts For Everyone On Your ListSupport Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today . Already a member? Sign in here. Support Hyperallergic’s independent arts journalism for as little as $8 per month. Become a Member HELSINKI — In Tove Jansson’s first Moomins novel, The Moomins and the Great Flood (1945), the titular characters travel through a frightening forest before a rainstorm causes an epic flood, covering the land in danger and darkness. When the waters begin to recede, the Moomins find they have been swept into a beautiful fertile valley. They decide to stay. Published during the last months of the Second World War, it is easy to read the book as an allegory, with the flood representing the inescapable horrors of war and Moominvalley as an Edenic sanctuary. As an outspoken pacificist, Jansson spent the war years and beyond both protesting conflict and seeking an escape from it. Tove Jansson: Paradise at Helsinki Art Museum captures both aspects of Jansson’s life and work, with a focus on her public art commissions from the 1940s through ’50s. Most of her paintings avoid depicting the realities of war, but two tiny, tatty-edged works on paper speak volumes. Both are city scenes inspired by her travels in Germany in the late 1930s, during which she witnessed the terrifying rise of Nazism. One features a prominent swastika flag, while the other depicts a murky street surrounded by oppressive black buildings. A crowd of shadowy figures moves towards a tiny dot of orange light in an open doorway; are they refugees fleeing toward the hopeful glimmer, or are they fascists rushing to stamp it out? This is the world Jansson wished to escape, especially with an older brother fighting at the front. As she wrote to a friend in 1944, “I’ve never dreamt and planned as much as I have in these past few years. Not as a game — but as an absolute necessity.” As this exhibition shows, Jansson saw dreaming and playfulness as essential relief from the deprivations of war, which continued even after the armistice. Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities In bombed-out Helsinki and beyond, a government rebuilding program created opportunities for artists, and Jansson was able to earn a living for the first time through her Moomin comic strip and a series of public commissions. In both endeavors, she turned to images of paradise, forests, and fairytales to craft a unique imaginative world that appeals to adults as much as to children. Moomin characters make cameos in many of her murals, such as her frescoes “Party in the City” and “Party in the Countryside” (both 1947). In the first of these, Jansson depicts herself gazing out at the viewer, her back turned defiantly on her lover Vivica Bandler, with whom she had recently broken up with acrimoniously. A little Moomintroll lurks on the table beside her, a mascot, perhaps, that represents a gateway to a more fantastical world. Moomin characters feature more frequently in works designed explicitly for children’s spaces, such as her diptych “Fairytale Panorama,” produced for a kindergarten in 1949. The two paintings are delightful flights of fancy, crammed with whimsical details of princesses, magical landscapes, and fantastical creatures. But even here, as in all of her paradisal paintings, there are subtle hints of menace: Bats flutter, lightning bolts threaten a storm, and cats stalk hungrily. This is not pure escapism, but an expression of a state in which joy and fear are allowed to coexist. Many of these murals, including the “Fairytale Panorama,” were made for specific sites and aren’t present in the exhibition. However, the recent discovery of several rolls of preparatory charcoal drawings at 1:1 scale in a corner of the artist’s studio makes some form of presentation here possible. These are not rough sketches but fully worked-out scenes, and merit viewing as artworks in their own right. With their monochrome shadowy strokes, they bear an accidental affinity to Jansson’s earlier sketch of a Nazi-ridden city, and certainly offer a more solemn perspective on the final vibrantly colorful frescoes, which are seen in projections alongside the drawings. A handful of Jansson’s paradise paintings read uncomfortably through a contemporary postcolonial lens, such as one piece produced for a rubber company depicting idealized workers on a plantation. Another pair of paintings, probably produced in 1939 and 1940, are Gaugin-like in their delineation of an imaginary sunny Polynesian island populated by happily unclothed people. Jansson made a number of works in this style with the belief that they would sell and make her some much-needed cash during the brutal Winter War of 1939–40, during which the Soviet Union invaded Finland. She was mistaken; it turned out to be the Moomin comic strips and public commissions that provided her with both the creative and financial lifeline she needed. Jansson’s cross-disciplinary oeuvre demonstrates a radical commitment to the profound necessity of play, dreams, and escapism. She took children seriously, which is reflected in the exhibition’s thoughtful, unobtrusive design. Paintings are hung low to the ground, Moomin creatures hide among the architecture, and there are doors to open and kaleidoscopes to look through. The exhibition — infused with the same knowing nostalgia as her works — is both comforting and subtly subversive. Tove Jansson: Paradise continues at the Helsinki Art Museum (Eteläinen Rautatiekatu 8 , Helsinki, Finland) through April 6, 2025. The exhibition was organized by Heli Harni. We hope you enjoyed this article! Before you keep reading, please consider supporting Hyperallergic ’s journalism during a time when independent, critical reporting is increasingly scarce. Unlike many in the art world, we are not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Our journalism is funded by readers like you , ensuring integrity and independence in our coverage. We strive to offer trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. We spotlight artist-led social movements, uncover overlooked stories, and challenge established norms to make art more inclusive and accessible. With your support, we can continue to provide global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. If you can, please join us as a member today . Millions rely on Hyperallergic for free, reliable information. By becoming a member, you help keep our journalism free, independent, and accessible to all. Thank you for reading. Share Copied to clipboard Mail Bluesky Threads LinkedIn FacebookChuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83
From Maui to the Caribbean, Thanksgiving tournaments a beloved part of college basketballThe president of the AFL club both poisoned Australian teenagers played for in has spoken out in the wake of 19-year-old Beaumaris Football Club President Nick Heath said Bianca's family is "completely shattered" and shaken by the unimaginable loss, but have taken comfort in the fact they were able to be by her side at a Thai hospital prior to her death. "It's just taken it to another level of grief and we're all just trying to cope with at the moment," Heath told ABC News Breakfast on Friday morning. "The good thing, if there is such a thing in this situation, all of the family were with her at the time. They embraced her and said goodbye in a way that the family would have liked to." Heath said the girls formed part of the "Covid generation" and had only just begun to enjoy their adult lives. "[They] missed out on their social lives for a couple of years and they'd finished their schooling and both worked hard in their part-time jobs to get some money to have their dream overseas trip," he said. "And off they went, full of zest for life and quest for adventure. "I think that's why so many people relate to this because it could happen to anybody. And that really smacks you right between the eyes. These young people deserve some social life and deserved their time in the sun, and now this happens. It's devastating." Heath led tributes for Bianca who on Thursday died in a Thai hospital after spending over a week on life support following the suspected . The young woman, from the Bayside area in the city's south-east, is being remembered for her "infectious charm and tenacity", her smile, exuberance and "happy nature [which] made her a delight to be around." Police are now probing staff at the Nana Backpackers where the two young Victorians were staying, demanding on Thursday to see the alcohol served on the night of the harrowing incident. The two friends are believed to have drank first at the hostel, before heading out to the nearby Jaidee Bar on November 11. It's unclear which of the two venues the travellers were poisoned at. According to 7News, Jaidee Bar is said by locals to have underground criminal links and it openly serves drugs including marijuana, magic mushrooms, opium and hash brownies from a menu. Locals earlier told reporters in Laos the establishment had links to methanol poisonings in the past. Police confirmed Bianca died as a result of methanol consumption, which was detected in high quantities in her body. "The physician who examined her said the cause of death was a methanol poisoning, from fake liquor," Phattanawong Chanphon, a police official in the Thai city of Udon Thani told Reuters. "The amount of methanol in her body was high, leading to swelling of the brain." Bianca's death follows two Danish women in their twenties and an American who were drinking in the area at the time. Overnight, British media confirmed lawyer Simone White, 28, from Kent, became the fifth victim of the tragedy. In a chilling twist, it also emerged her friend Bethany Clarke tried to warn others about bars in Vang Vieng, posting an "urgent" message to social media about the "free shots" they were offered. "Urgent — please avoid all local spirits. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars," Bethany wrote on the Laos Backpacking Facebook group. "Just avoid them as [it's] so not worth it. Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning. I got to the private hospital in time but underwent many infusions and tablets and days of recovery." While cases involving Australians are rare in Southeast Asia, there have been several examples of in recent years, with WA man Colin Ahearn working tirelessly to raise awareness about the issue as well as providing support to people who fear they've been poisoned. He told Yahoo News Australia the girls' hospitalisation was a sad reminder to all to have their wits about them when in countries unknown to them. "It does look exactly the same [as some of the methanol poisoning cases in Bali]," he said. The unimaginable tragedy has prompted warnings from authorities at home, in the UK and US. Smart Traveller . Meanwhile on home soil, those who knew Bianca have remembered her, as friends and family rally around the family of Holly Bowles, who remained clinging to life in a Bangkok hospital in a critical condition on Thursday. "Bianca was a much-loved player during her time playing for the Sharks. Bianca joined the Sharks in 2021 in our evolving girls Under 16’s and continued into 2022 where she was an integral part of the premiership-winning BFC U18s Girls team," the Beaumaris Football Club wrote online. "She quickly bonded with her teammates due to her spirited efforts to improve herself as a player and her vivacious sparkling personality that lifted the team on cold training nights and match day. "Bianca’s infectious charm and tenacity made her a fondly regarded teammate and friend." "Many wonderful memories of watching these girls play together in the 2022 season. We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Bianca. Our heartfelt condolences to the Jones family," another loved one wrote. "No words can heal the hurt felt right now. Our thoughts and love go to all Bianca's family, friends," said another.
F1 expands grid, adds Cadillac brand and new American team for '26Lea Miller-Tooley hopped off a call to welcome the Baylor women’s basketball team to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, where 80-degree temperatures made it easy for the Bears to settle in on Paradise Island a week before Thanksgiving. About 5,000 miles west of the Caribbean nation, similar climes awaited Maui Invitational men's teams in Hawaii. They’ve often been greeted with leis, the traditional Hawaiian welcome of friendship. College basketball teams and fans look forward to this time of the year. The holiday week tournaments feature buzzworthy matchups and all-day TV coverage, sure, but there is a familiarity about them as they help ward off the November chill. For four decades, these sandy-beach getaways filled with basketball have become a beloved mainstay of the sport itself. “When you see (ESPN’s) ‘Feast Week’ of college basketball on TV, when you see the Battle 4 Atlantis on TV, you know college basketball is back,” said Miller-Tooley, the founder and organizer of the Battle 4 Atlantis men's and women's tournaments. “Because it’s a saturated time of the year with the NFL, college football and the NBA. But when you see these gorgeous events in these beautiful places, you realize, ‘Wow, hoops are back, let’s get excited.’” MTE Madness The Great Alaska Shootout was the trend-setting multiple-team event (MTE) nearly five decades ago. The brainchild of late Alaska-Anchorage coach Bob Rachal sought to raise his program’s profile by bringing in national-power programs, which could take advantage of NCAA rules allowing them to exceed the maximum allotment of regular-season games if they played the three-game tournament outside the contiguous 48 states. The first edition, named the Sea Wolf Classic, saw N.C. State beat Louisville 72-66 for the title on Nov. 26, 1978. The Maui Invitational followed in November 1984, borne from the buzz of NAIA program Chaminade’s shocking upset of top-ranked Virginia and 7-foot-4 star Ralph Sampson in Hawaii two years earlier. Events kept coming, with warm-weather locales getting in on the action. The Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Cancun Challenge in Mexico. The Cayman Islands Classic. The Jamaica Classic. The Myrtle Beach Invitational joining the Charleston Classic in South Carolina. Numerous tournaments in Florida. Some events have faded away like the Puerto Rico Tipoff and the Great Alaska Shootout, the latter in 2017 amid event competition and schools opting for warm-weather locales. Atlantis rising Miller-Tooley’s push to build an MTE for Atlantis began as a December 2010 doubleheader with Georgia Tech beating Richmond and Virginia Tech beating Mississippi State in a prove-it moment for a tournament’s viability. It also required changing NCAA legislation to permit MTEs in the Bahamas. Approval came in March 2011; the first eight-team Atlantis men’s tournament followed in November. That tournament quickly earned marquee status with big-name fields, with Atlantis champions Villanova (2017) and Virginia (2018) later winning that season’s NCAA title. Games run in a ballroom-turned-arena at the resort, where players also check out massive swimming pools, water slides and inner-tube rapids surrounded by palm trees and the Atlantic Ocean. “It’s just the value of getting your passport stamped, that will never get old,” Miller-Tooley said. “Watching some of these kids, this may be their first and last time – and staff and families – that they ever travel outside the United States. ... You can see through these kids’ eyes that it’s really an unbelievable experience.” ACC Network analyst Luke Hancock knows that firsthand. His Louisville team finished second at Atlantis in 2012 and won that year’s later-vacated NCAA title, with Hancock as the Final Four's most outstanding player. “I remember (then-coach Rick Pitino) saying something to the effect of: ‘Some of you guys might never get this opportunity again. We’re staying in this unbelievable place, you’re doing it with people you love,’” Hancock said. “It was a business trip for us there at Thanksgiving, but he definitely had a tone of ‘We’ve got to enjoy this as well.’” Popular demand Maui offers similar vibes, though 2024 could be a little different as Lahaina recovers from deadly 2023 wildfires that forced the event's relocation last year. North Carolina assistant coach Sean May played for the Tar Heels’ Maui winner in 2004 and was part of UNC’s staff for the 2016 champion, with both teams later winning the NCAA title. May said “you just feel the peacefulness” of the area — even while focusing on games — and savors memories of the team taking a boat out on the Pacific Ocean after title runs under now-retired Hall of Famer Roy Williams. “Teams like us, Dukes, UConns – you want to go to places that are very well-run,” May said. “Maui, Lea Miller with her group at the Battle 4 Atlantis, that’s what drives teams to come back because you know you’re going to get standard A-quality of not only the preparation but the tournament with the way it’s run. Everything is top-notch. And I think that brings guys back year after year.” That’s why Colorado coach Tad Boyle is so excited for the Buffaloes’ first Maui appearance since 2009. “We’ve been trying to get in the tournament since I got here,” said Boyle, now in his 15th season. And of course, that warm-weather setting sure doesn’t hurt. “If you talk about the Marquettes of the world, St. John’s, Providence – they don’t want that cold weather,” said NBA and college TV analyst Terrence Oglesby, who played for Clemson in the 2007 San Juan Invitational in Puerto Rico. “They’re going to have to deal with that all January and February. You might as well get a taste of what the sun feels like.” Packed schedule The men’s Baha Mar Championship in Nassau, Bahamas, got things rolling last week with No. 11 Tennessee routing No. 13 Baylor for the title. The week ahead could boast matchups befitting the Final Four, with teams having two weeks of action since any opening-night hiccups. “It’s a special kickoff to the college basketball season,” Oglesby said. “It’s just without the rust.” On the women’s side, Atlantis began its fourth eight-team women’s tournament Saturday with No. 16 North Carolina and No. 18 Baylor, while the nearby Baha Mar resort follows with two four-team women’s brackets that include No. 2 UConn, No. 7 LSU, No. 17 Mississippi and No. 20 N.C. State. Then come the men’s headliners. The Maui Invitational turns 40 as it opens Monday back in Lahaina. It features second-ranked and two-time reigning national champion UConn, No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 Iowa State and No. 10 North Carolina. The Battle 4 Atlantis opens its 13th men’s tournament Wednesday, topped by No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 16 Indiana and No. 17 Arizona. Michigan State Hall of Famer Tom Izzo is making his fourth trip to Maui, where he debuted as Jud Heathcote’s successor at the 1995 tournament. Izzo's Spartans have twice competed at Atlantis, last in 2021. “They’re important because they give you something in November or December that is exciting,” Izzo said. Any drawbacks? “It’s a 10-hour flight,” he said of Hawaii.
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MERCER 90, JACKSONVILLE 89, OT
No. 8 Kentucky flying high ahead of Western Kentucky meetingF1 expands grid, adds Cadillac brand and new American team for '26