Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette Finnish artist Eeva Hokkanen stands beside her piece titled "Soil Layers." The piece is part of her "Humus (taking over) exhibit that will be on display at the Finnish American Heritage Center from April 24 to June 4. Hokkanen's displayed work examines the relationship between humans and nature and how the end of life sparks new beginnings.

HANCOCK — The Finlandia Foundation National is hosting “Humus (taking over),” an. art exhibition currently on display in the Finnish American Heritage Center Gallery until June 4. The exhibit features 26 pen and ink pieces created by Finnish artist Eeva Hokkanen. The exhibit kicked off with an artist reception feature Hokkanen Thursday at the FAHC

April 24 kicked off the exhibit with a reception attended by the artist. Hokkanen, a professional artist from Lahti, about an hour away from Helsinki, has participated in several artist in residence programs across the globe and including as New York, West Africa and Berlin. At the Finnish American Heritage Center she interacted with visitors and shared her inspirations and motivations for her art.

“I have always been really intrigued by the connections between humans and nature, Hokkanen said. “That’s the topic I have been exploring for a long time. And nature has been a really big thing for me since I was a kid. When I was younger I spent a lot of time drawing in nature, and that deep love for the natural world became the heart of my work. Then I realized that it’s not eternal, so maybe the maybe that’s the starting point for this exhibition as well.”

The pieces all feature aspects of the natural world with plants and animals, though some are drawn more from realistic influences while others appear to have developed from more fantastical or dreamlike influences.

Hokkanen explained the title of the largest piece and the overall collection “Humus (taking over)” refers to the dark organic matter that forms as plants and animals decay. Her pieces reflect on how endings create new beginnings, and the fragile relationship between humans and nature. Hokkanen emphasized however that she wishes for observers to come to their own conclusions as to what each piece represents.

Finlandia Art Gallery Director Carrie Vander Veen said she has been trying to organize the exhibit since 2019, but the plans had to be put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. However now that the exhibit and Hokkanen could now come to Hancock, Veen said she is thrilled for the opportunity to display the ink pen drawings and continue the celebration of modern Finnish creators and culture in the area.

“It’s very unique that I can bring an artist of this professional caliber to our area,” Veen said. “[Hokkanen] is a very accomplished artist that’s had shows and done residencies all over the world, and so I feel really like we’re very lucky. We have a very supportive artistic community here that appreciate art and the lessons and the conversations and the community that it builds.”