Mikki Kunttu (born 1971) is a Finnish

lighting Lighting or illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve practical or aesthetic effects. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources like lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight. ...

and

set designer Scenic design, also known as stage design or set design, is the creation of scenery for theatrical productions including plays and musicals. The term can also be applied to film and television productions, where it may be referred to as prod ...

. Kunttu has worked mainly in the field of

dance Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...

, but also

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

popular music Popular music is music with wide appeal that is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. These forms and styles can be enjoyed and performed by people with little or no musical training.Popular Music. (2015). ''Fun ...

and

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

, as well as

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

and

industrial arts Industrial arts is an educational program that features the fabrication of objects in wood or metal using a variety of hand, power, or machine tools. Industrial Arts are commonly referred to as Technology Education. It may include small engine ...

. At the age of 18 Kunttu began designing lightings for Kotka City Theatre. He graduated in 1995 from the Media and Arts programme of

Tampere University of Applied Sciences Tampere University of Applied Sciences (, TAMK) is a university of applied sciences (a polytechnic) in the region of Pirkanmaa, Finland. Together with Tampere University, they constitute the Tampere higher education community. Founded in 1996 ...

, specializing in lighting and sound design. After graduating he proceeded to work at Tampere Concert Hall. Kunttu has worked with many prominent dance artists and groups from Finland and abroad, such as Tero Saarinen,

Jorma Elo Jorma Elo is a contemporary choreographer. Early life He was born 30 August 1961 in Helsinki, Finland. His father, Jaakko Elo, is a urological surgeon, mother Ruth Elo née Carlstedt, a dentist. Jorma Elo's partner since 1994 is Nancy Euveri ...

Jorma Uotinen Jorma Leo Kalevi Uotinen (born 28 June 1950 in Pori) is a Finnish dancer, singer and choreographer. As a dancer and choreographer, Uotinen has worked both in many dance groups, both in and outside of Finland, since 1970. He has received many Fin ...

, Carolyn Carlson, Akram Khan, Jirí Kylián and

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (born 10 March 1976) is a Belgian dancer and choreographer and director. He has made over 50 choreographic pieces and received two Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production, three Ballet Tanz awards for best cho ...

. Kunttu has collaborated repeatedly with the

Finnish National Opera The Finnish National Opera and Ballet (; ) is a Finnish opera company and ballet company based in Helsinki. It is headquartered in the Opera House on the coast of the Töölönlahti bay in Töölö, which opened in 1993, and is state-owned throu ...

and

Ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...

Norwegian National Ballet The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet () is a Norwegian opera company and ballet company. The first fully professional company each for opera and ballet in Norway and the only such professional organisation in the country, it is currently resi ...

Royal Danish Ballet The Royal Danish Ballet ( Danish: ''Den Kongelige Ballet'') is an internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Royal Danish Theatre in Kongens Nytorv, Copenhagen, Denmark. It is one of the oldest ballet companies in the world a ...

and The Boston Ballet. Mikki Kunttu is one of the founding members of

Tero Saarinen Company Tero Saarinen Company is a dance group led by Finnish dance artist and choreographer Tero Saarinen, which he founded in 1996. In Helsinki the group is the programme partner of Dance House Helsinki, where the company presents not only Tero Saar ...

and has created the lightning designs and visualization for all Company productions. In 2006 Kunttu received the prestigious

Bessie Award The New York Dance and Performance Awards, also known as the Bessie Awards, are awarded annually for exceptional achievement by independent dance artists presenting their work in New York City. The broad categories of the awards are: choreography, ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

for lighting design for

and Akram Khan Company. His handprint can also be seen in Finnish television. He has worked as a lighting, screen and set designer in several large productions, including various TV galas such as

Savonlinna Opera Festival Savonlinna Opera Festival () is held annually in the city of Savonlinna in Finland. The Festival takes place at the medieval Olavinlinna (St. Olaf's Castle), built in 1475. The castle is located amid spectacular lake scenery. Origin The birth ...

, the Finnish adaptations of Talent, Idols,

Dancing with the Stars ''Strictly Come Dancing (widely known as Dancing with the Stars)'' is an international television franchise based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing,'' itself a successor to the show ''Come Dancing'' (1950–1998) ...

, Dance Suomi, Big Brother, and

Clash of the Choirs ''Clash of the Choirs'' is a reality talent contest miniseries that debuted on NBC in the United States on December 17, 2007. There were four episodes scheduled in the “quick competition”. Maria Menounos is the host of the program, which w ...

, as well as the Life for Children Charity Concerts, the

MTV3 MTV3 (, ) is a Finnish commercial television channel owned and operated by the media company MTV Oy, originally launched on 13 August 1957 as a programming block, becoming its own channel on 1 January 1993. It had the biggest audience share ...

Semi-centennial Gala and the

Eurovision Song Contest The Eurovision Song Contest (), often known simply as Eurovision, is an international Music competition, song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) among its members since 1956. Each participating broadcaster ...

s in Helsinki in 2007, Malmö in 2013 and Stockholm in 2016.Haapanen, irmeli
Valoa euroviisukansalle
25.1.2007. Turun Sanomat. People
''Tero Saarinen Company'' Kunttu’s visual design has also been seen on tours and concerts by

Kimmo Pohjonen Kimmo Pohjonen (born August 16, 1964) is a Finnish accordionist who is known for his avant-garde and experimental work with his custom-made electrified and modified instrument. He has released nine albums of his work and has toured Europe extens ...

Apocalyptica Apocalyptica is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Helsinki, formed in 1993. The band is currently composed of three classically trained cellists Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Perttu Kivilaakso. Originally a Classical music, classical- ...

Paula Koivuniemi Paula Kristiina Koivuniemi (born 19 June 1947) is a Finnish singer who started her singing career in the 1960s. Koivuniemi released her first hit single "Perhonen" (''Butterfly'') in 1966. In the 1970s her career was in decline, but during the 198 ...

Hanoi Rocks Hanoi Rocks were a Finnish Rock music, rock band formed in 1979. They were the first Finnish band to chart in the UK and they were also popular in Japan. By 1984, the band was considered to be on the verge of an international breakthrough when ...

Ismo Alanko Ismo Kullervo Alanko (; born November 12, 1960) is a Finnish musician. He is known as the frontman of several bands, most famously Hassisen Kone, Sielun Veljet and Ismo Alanko Säätiö, as well as a successful solo artist. Alanko is known ...

Von Hertzen Brothers Von Hertzen Brothers is a Finnish rock group formed in 2000, by three brothers. Their music is a mix of classic rock and progressive elements, folk, punk and contemporary rock. Each of the brothers have a notable history in the Finnish rock sce ...

and

Michael Monroe Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm (born 17 June 1962), better known by his stage name Michael Monroe, is a Finnish rock musician who rose to fame as the vocalist and saxophonist for the glam punk band Hanoi Rocks and has served as the frontman ...

. His latest projects include the lighting design for the Grand Opening of the new

Oslo Opera House The Oslo Opera House () is the home of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and the national opera house in Norway. The building is situated in the Bjørvika neighbourhood of central Oslo, at the head of the Oslofjord. It is operated by S ...

(2008), the ''Season of Light'' event and ''Armo - Grace'' Installation for Lux Helsinki (2009-2011) and Scalada: Stelar by Cirque du Soleil (2017).

Prizes and Grants

*Five-year grant of the

Arts Council of Finland The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (, ) is an expert and service agency for promoting the arts in Finland. Arts Promotion Centre Finland is organized under the Ministry of Education and Culture. It is funded by the Ministry of Education and is compo ...

(2005) *

(USA 2006) *Koura Award (2007) *Säde Award (2007) *

Venla {{Unreferenced, date=December 2020 Venla was a Finnish television award. It was awarded annually between 1982 and 2010, after which it was replaced by the Golden Venla gala and award. The drama and entertainment judges award prizes in eleven cate ...

Diploma of Merit (2010)

References

External links

mikkikunttu.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kunttu, Mikki Lighting designers 1971 births Living people Finnish designers