On October 17, Cuban artist Enrique Martínez Celaya captivated audiences at the Los Angeles Opera with a breathtaking piece—a hand-painted curtain approximately 21 meters wide that transforms as it ascends on stage, revealing a dynamic and evolving artwork right before the audience's eyes.
Titled The Things We Know, this masterpiece was specially crafted for the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, a prominent cultural venue in Los Angeles. It will complement the performances throughout the 2026-2027 season.
The debut coincided with the start of LA Opera's season, which opened with a fresh production of Georges Bizet's Carmen.
Beyond Stage Decoration
Martínez Celaya's creation transcends mere stage decoration. He has ingeniously integrated the curtain's movement into the core of the work, allowing the audience to uncover new images as the performance draws near.
In a recent interview with ELLE magazine on October 17, Martínez Celaya revealed his desire to explore an artistic concept that would be challenging to realize in a conventional museum setting.
The initial scene portrays two children absorbed in their tiny worlds: a girl holding a fish bowl and a boy reaching out to a bird in a cage.
For around 40 minutes leading up to the show, the audience primarily views this tableau. However, as the curtain begins to rise, stars, flowers, and flashes of light emerge, dramatically transforming the composition.
Ultimately, the imagery fades into darkness, setting the stage for the opera to commence.
Martínez Celaya: From Cuba to Global Stages
Born in Cuba in 1964, Martínez Celaya left the island with his family at the age of eight, subsequently living in Spain and Puerto Rico before moving to the United States.
He pursued Applied Physics at Cornell University and later Quantum Electronics at the University of California, Berkeley. During this period, he conducted scientific research and secured patents related to laser technologies.
Despite a promising scientific career, he eventually chose to devote himself entirely to art.
In a recent interview with La Opinión in early October, he recalled the bewilderment his decision caused among family and colleagues.
In 2012, he created The Tower of Snow, a 3.3-meter bronze sculpture set before Miami's Freedom Tower, honoring the thousands of Cuban children who arrived in the U.S. alone during Operation Peter Pan.
His return to Havana in 2019, after 47 years, marked his participation in the Biennial with El Trineo Dorado, an installation on the Malecón that delved into themes of migration, aspirations for a better life, and memory reconstruction.
Martínez Celaya's works are part of prestigious collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
He's also collaborated with institutions such as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. Currently, he resides in Los Angeles, serving as a professor of Humanities and Arts at the University of Southern California.
A New Chapter for the Curtain
Martínez Celaya announced to ELLE that, following the opera season, the curtain will be divided into individual artworks for sale, raising funds for future productions and initiatives by LA Opera.
The commission was officially announced by the institution in September, highlighting the Cuban artist's unique ability to blend painting, poetry, philosophy, and reflections on the human experience.
LA Opera has scheduled a free open house on October 24, allowing visitors to witness the artwork's transformation through the curtain's movement and engage with its creator.
Frequently Asked Questions about Enrique Martínez Celaya's Transformative Artwork
What is the significance of Enrique Martínez Celaya's curtain at the Los Angeles Opera?
The curtain, titled The Things We Know, is a transformative artwork that integrates movement to reveal evolving images, enhancing the audience's experience and exploring themes of childhood, memory, freedom, and confinement.
What are some notable achievements of Enrique Martínez Celaya?
Martínez Celaya has created significant works like The Tower of Snow in Miami and participated in international exhibitions, with his art part of collections at major institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum.