Finland’s most successful lighting designer and visualist will be celebrated at Tampere Hall during autumn 2022

Mikki Kunttu to star his own festival – Finland’s most successful lighting designer and visualist will be celebrated at Tampere Hall during autumn 2022 Celebrating the 50th anniversary of lighting designer and visualist Mikki Kunttu, an international festival will be held at Tampere Hall in autumn 2022. The name of the event is “In the Light Mikki Kunttu”. Kunttu is one of Finland’s most successful artists, lighting designers and visualists. The festival portrays Kunttu’s impressive career and offers the audience a concert by the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, a gala evening, an exhibition and a professional seminar, among others. The international gala evening will feature performers and artists from Kunttu’s career: Tero Saarinen Company, Apocalyptica, Chisu, Kimmo Pohjonen and Martti Suosalo, as well as soloists from the Boston Ballet, the Royal Danish Ballet and Cirque du Soleil. The festival will be published today, on Monday 22 February, Kunttu’s 50th birthday. During 2021, the whole programme will be announced and ticket sales starts. Mikki Kunttu is one of the world’s most prominent visualists. His work can be seen in numerous television, art and music productions. Kunttu masters the visualization of grand arenas as well as styles ranging from opera to ballet, all the way to contemporary dance. He is a sought-after keynote speaker at international top events in his field, and he lectures at universities in the US and Great Britain. Kunttu is also known for his work as a visualist and lighting designer for Cirque du Soleil in Montreal and for being in charge of the visualization of the National Opera’s Ring series. Further, he has worked as a visualist at the Eurovision Song Contest. He has also collaborated with the famous British choreographer Akram Khan. In the Light Mikki Kunttu (28.9. – 1.10.2022) offers unique content for the audience and the chance to enjoy shows by artists who only rarely perform in Tampere or Finland. Tampere and Tampere Hall are special places for Kunttu, as he was employed by Tampere Hall at the start of his career. He has also studied lighting design in Tampere. – For me, the feeling of closure brings a sensation of significance. I learned very much while working at Tampere Hall. I feel honored that I can now present artists who are important to me, and with whom I have collaborated during my career. Bringing them together in this event feels unforgettable and unique. Working together with the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra is a fantastic opportunity and Holst’s The Planets is the perfect choice for the evening, states Mikki Kunttu. – Whenever something big happens in the world, Mikki Kunttu is called in as a visualist, says Paulina Ahokas, Managing Director of Tampere Hall. – Kunttu’s charisma is one of a kind. International professionals in the field all consider him as one of the most important visualists in the world. Not many visualists know how to master the world’s newest arenas and different art forms as skillfully as Kunttu does, Ahokas continues. An essential part of the festival is a seminar aimed at professionals in the audiovisual sector. Beyond Light and Shadow presents the latest trends and future opportunities of visual design. Famous international speakers, visualists of mega concerts and shows, will be on stage. The seminar is produced by Tampere Hall in collaboration with Yle and Akun Tehdas. The seminar brings together audiovisual professionals as well as students, buyers, equipment manufacturers and freelancers. Professionals meeting each other, networking together and preparing for the audiovisual world after the pandemic are all in the very heart of this event. Beyond Light and Shadow strengthens the Finnish know-how of shaping the visual identity of concerts and hence bringing Finland to the top in the event industry of the future. In the Light Mikki Kunttu continues the event series by Tampere Hall and the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra. Previous artists in the series have been Ismo Alanko and Kaija Saariaho. The programme (further details to be announced later): WED 28.9.2022 SEMINAR: Beyond Light and Shadow – The future of lighting and visualization reimagined FRI 30.9.2022 THE PLANETS: The Tampere Philharmonic and Mikki Kunttu SAT 1.10.2022 THE NIGHT OF LIGHT: Mikki Kunttu 50 Gala evening 28.9.-1.10.2022 PHOTO EXHIBITION: LUCID DREAMS – Mikki Kunttu retrospective photo exhibition The event is produced in collaboration with MA Lighting (GER), Lightpower (GER), Live Design (USA), Lighting and Sound International (UK) and Pyroman Oy (FIN).