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.
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.
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.
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
Online articles
LIVE Design : 31 days of plots "In The Light.."
LIVE Design : 31 days of plots "KARU"
LIVE Design : 31 days of plots "The Snow Queen"
LIVE Design : Mikki Kunttu's design for Swan Lake
LIVE Design : Swan Lake part 2
LIVE Design : 31 days of plots "Fuzion"
LIVE Design : City Of Helsinki Gives Production Designer Mikki Kunttu Culture Award
City of Helsinki : Helsinki Culture Award to Mikki Kunttu
tpi Magazine : A Claypaky Mini Xtylos rig helps celebrate Mikki Kunttu’s 50th
Live Production : On the Playing Field
Live Design : Eurovision Song Contest 2016 part 1
Live Design : Eurovision Song Contest 2016 part 2
Finnish National Opera : The Ring Cycle
Chauvet : Mikki Kunttu - Imperfect light
Suomen Kuvalehti : Ammattina spektaakkeli (2020)
Kulttuuritoimitus : Macbeth (2024)
Kulttuuritoimitus : Mikki Kunttu
Helsingin Sanomat : Mikki Kunttu
LightSound Journal : MDG CHATmosphere with Mikki Kunttu (2023)
Kielipuolen Päiväkirja : Macbeth (2024)
Teatteri & Tanssi : Macbeth (2024)
Suomen Kuvalehti : Macbeth (2024)
Salonjokilaakso : Macbeth (2024)
Kulttuuritoimitus : Parasta juuri nyt (2024)
Clay Paky : Götterdämmerung (2024)
Heikin Herkut : Jumalten Tuho (2024)
Everything Theatre : Alegria Royal Albert Hall (2024)
Dance Informa : Carmen Boston Ballet (2024)
Dance Informa : The Nutcracker Boston Ballet (2023)
Theater Museum Helsinki : Lucid Dreams (2024)
Shoutout HTX : Meet Mikki Kunttu
MA Lighting : The Land Of Kalevala (2018)
MA Lighting : Eurovision Song Contest (2016)
The New York Times : Borrowed Light (2006)
Aamulehti : Maailmanluokan supertähti oppi erikoisen ammattinsa Tampereella (2021)