Mikki kunttu bio

Mikki Kunttu 22.02.1971 Finland

Mikki Kunttu is a lighting, sets and screen content designer for theater, live entertainment, television and visual arts.

Mikki Kunttu is a world-renowned visual artist due to the unique signature in his designs.

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He is internationally highly recocnized by the industry and he is also a sought after speaker in universities and seminars all around the world.

His career includes designs for opera, ballet, contemporary dance, rock and pop concerts,

classical concerts, theatre, television, film, installations, lighting festivals and arts exhibitions.

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Mikki Kunttu is a well known designer for his collaborations with choreographer Tero Saarinen, Cirque du Soleil, The Royal Danish Ballet, Boston Ballet and The Finnish National Opera & Ballet. He has also designed visuals for three Eurovision Song Contest productions in Sweden and Finland.

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In September 2022 Tampere Hall, Finland presented In The Light Mikki Kunttu,  a festival created around his 30 year long career. The week long event presented four productions; A retrospective photo exhibition Lucid Dreams, Light & Shadow international seminar on lighting design, The Planets concert with Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra and also A Night Of Light gala concert where performers from all around the world came together to celebrate his 50 year anniversary and 30 year long career as an artist.

CONTEMPORARY DANCE

Mikki Kunttu has created designs for over 100 contemporary dance productions all

over the world. His contemporary dance collaborators include such world-renowned

artists as Jiri Kylian, Tero Saarinen, Akram Khan, Sidi Larbi, Sylvie Guillem, Carolyn

Carlson, Jorma Elo, Jorma Uotinen, Susanna Leinonen and Andonis Foniadakis.

CIRCUS

Kunttu has collaborated with Cirque du Soleil since 2017 creating visuals for their productions,

such as Stelar (2017), Alegria - in new light (2019), The 11:11 Gala in Shanghai (2019),

Vitori (2019), Fuzion (2022) and MUV (2022).

BALLET

Mikki Kunttu has created a number of designs for the most prestige classical ballet

productions internationally. His designs for “Swan Lake” (2015 The Royal Danish Ballet),

“The Nutcracker” (2014 Boston Ballet) and “A Folk Tale” (2010 The Royal Danish Ballet)

have received international acclaim and have been featured in magazines and online

publications around the world.

THEATER AND MUSICAL THEATER

Mikki Kunttu has created designs for drama tand musical theater. His

collaborators include some of Finland’s front row stage artists such as Seela Sella,

Martti Suosalo and Maria Sid.

OPERA

Mikki Kunttu’s opera productions include designs for a number of productions at the

Finnish National Opera (FIN), The Norwegian National Opera (NOR) and The Royal

Danish Opera (DK).

Kunttu is created the production design (sets, lighting and video) for Richard Wagner’s “Ring Cycle” at

The Finnish National Opera 2019 - 2024.

CONCERT AND TOURING

Mikki Kunttu has designed visuals for various touring and concert productions including Kimmo Pohjonen, Nightwish, Michael Monroe, Hanoi Rocks, Sami Yaffa and Apocalyptica. He has also collaborated with classical orchestras such as LA Phil (USA).

TELEVISION AND FILM

Mikki Kunttu’s television resume includes designs for Eurovision Song Contest in 2007,

2013 and 2016.

In Finland Kunttu has designed a number of tv-seasons for programs like Strictly Come

Dancing, Let’s Dance, Idols, Talent Finland, Dancing On Ice and others.

In 2019 he designed lighting for Cirque du Soleil’s performance in Shanghai for

The Singles Day Gala, that was broadcasted live to some 300 million viewers.

EDUCATION

Tampere School of Arts and Communication (FIN), a degree in lighting and sound

expression, 1995.

REFERENCES

www.mikkikunttu.com