studio job dreams up technicolor stage set for mika’s ‘no place in heaven’ tour

studio job dreams up technicolor stage set for mika’s ‘no place in heaven’ tour
photo by loek blonk

after taking a visit to the antwerp studio of studio job a few years ago, mika became fascinated with the design work that founder job meets, leading designer nynke tynagel, and their team of young craftsman and artists were producing. so much so that the musician then invited smeets to collaborate with him on the creative aspects of his upcoming album and scenographic elements of his ‘no place in heaven’ tour, thus marking studio job’s first music project.

‘no place in heaven’ stage set in brussels
photo by loek blonk

mika’s live shows are typically fantastical experiences that are charged with technicolor pop and dynamic theatrics. smeets translates these aspects with gargantuan visionary drawings that visualize mika’s music, forming a large part of the stage set design for the british-based singer’s tour. projecting a cynical but humorous feel, industrial smoke stacks, a hungry great shark and a sinking ship set the scene, decorated by some out-of-this world objects to animate the performances.

job smeets of studio job performing with mika at the brussels show
photo by set vexy

the icing on the cake is the grand finale which sees a gigantic crystal globe made from a million swarovski crystals. taking about one year to construct, the resulting glittering sphere is a showstopper that transforms the concert into an art disco.

the stage set offers up large, fantastical drawings by job smeets
photo by set vexy

mika performing live in amsterdam
photo by set vexy

the scenography of the stage set is cynical, but humorous
photo by set vexy

mika up front and centre in brussels
photo by set vexy

mika closing a show
photo by set vexy

the grand finale which sees a gigantic crystal globe made from a million swarovski crystals
photo by set vexy

stage set by studio job for mika’s ‘no place in heaven’ european tour
photo by set vexy