Karolina Serrano
Nelson
Behind the Red Curtain
acrylic paint on metal, 2024
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Inspired by the transformative power of the performing arts, this work celebrates the hidden worlds behind the red curtain. Through theatrical symbols—masks, sheet music, flowers—it pays tribute to the stories, emotions, and dreams that live within every character and every spectator. It’s an invitation to look beyond the visible, into the inner stages where we each perform our own version of the world.
Karolina Serrano
Eliane Polack and her team at the Theatre Royal Nelson had a nasty looking metal box, right beside the building.
They approached MSS, keen for a transformation that reflected the performing arts.
We knew Karolina Serrano would be able to create the perfect design, especially because of her experience as a performer in her native Columbia, and because she recently painted a Chorus box on Waimea Road.
Big thanks to Theatre Royal Nelson for this one.
Karolina Serrano is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative path was shaped early on within a family of over 60 painters, where storytelling and artistic expression coloured everyday life. Passionate about the role of art in fostering healing and belonging, Karolina has led creative initiatives with migrants and former refugees. She also designs hand-painted jewellery and accessories, carrying the spirit of her heritage into wearable art.
As the Cultural Navigator for Shared Communities Whakatū Nelson, Karolina was the project manager for the Nile St Wall. This is just one of 64 community-led projects that were delivered by 27 migrant and former refugee communities, including festivals, films, workshops, celebrations, exhibitions, and performances. These projects were hosted across various venues, from small-scale workshops to large public events.
