Erkki Pekkarinen’s Birch Bark Stable at the Asikkala Heritage Museum

The birch bark works of Erkki Pekkarinen, who was born in Lieksa in 1936 and lives in Vesivehmaa, Asikkala, combine ancient technique with amazing creativity and artistic expression. Pekkarinen is a masterful birch bark weaver who has focused on testing the limits and possibilities of the traditional birch bark technique.

Pekkarinen’s masterpieces form an extensive collection, almost 500 birch bark works, including record-breaking birch bark shoes of almost three metres, a men’s suit woven from birch bark and a container with a capacity of more than one and a half cubic metres.

For years, the collection was on display in the Birch Bark Master’s Cottage in Pekkarinen’s courtyard. In the summer of 2026, Pekkarinen donated his collection to the Asikkala Local Heritage Association, which exhibits works in the summer at the Asikkala Local Heritage Museum.

Erkki Pekkarinen’s Bark Giant sculpture can be seen in the courtyard of Hotel Tallukka in Vääksy, Asikkala.

Photos: Vesa Pekkarinen

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Erkki Pekkarinen’s artist introduction.
Photo memories from 2021 in the premises of the Birch Bark Master’s Cottage.
Watch a video of a visit to the Birch Bark Master’s Cottage in 2017.