Boris Akbulatov says that “The Myths of the ‘Kalevala’ Epic Poem” is one of the main themes in his body of work. The artist began working on illustrations for the Karelian and Finnish epic poem in 1985 when the 150th anniversary of its initial publication was being commemorated. The result of this effort was the release of the “Kalevala” edition in 1992, featuring parallel texts in Finnish, Russian, and English, with illustrations by Boris Akbulatov.

In 2014, the 165th anniversary of the publication of the canonical edition in Finnish was commemorated. On this occasion, a new translation into Russian was made by Leonid Belsky. This edition featured illustrations by Boris Akbulatov.

The traditional activity of the local people — hunting — is reflected in the rune poetry and the epic poem compiled by Elias Lönnrot. In Finnish mythology, Otso (also known as Karhu, Ohto, Kontio, Metsan Kuningas, and Mesikammen) is a bear, the sacred ruler of beasts and leader of the forest. Louhi, the evil sorceress, sends diseases to the land of Kaleva in an attempt to destroy it. However, Wainamoinen manages to cure the sick. Louhi then sets the bear on the herds of Kaleva. Wainamoinen asks the blacksmith Ilmarinen to create a spear, and begins hunting the beast. Wainamoinen kills the bear and, in accordance with an ancient tradition, celebrations are held in Kaleva. Wainamoinen recounts how the gods and goddesses of the forest assisted him in hunting the bear.