Emiliano Suarez is an entrepreneur, creative consultant, producer, photographer, and an opera lover. He has managed to unite his passions in his new project, Garaje Lola, in Madrid. It is multidisciplinary space where he has unleashed his creative vision.
There, in a garage that feels both industrial and carefully curated, Suarez hosts flamenco concerts, art exhibitions, cooking shows by renowned chefs, and events of all kinds. It’s also the place where he presents his opera productions, like “Lucia di Lammermoor” or “Gilda & Rigoletto.” Whitewall spoke with Suarez about collaborating with figures such as José Mercé, artist Kike Garcinuño, chef Andrea Tumbarello or tenor Gregory Kunde at Garaje Lola.
Courtesy of the artist and Emiliano Suarez.
WHITEWALL: Garaje Lola is only a few months old and it seems an unstoppable machine of cultural events. What inspires you?
EMILIANO SUAREZ: Inspiration comes by working hard and rethinking creative ideas slowly. In these tough times, we have been able to create original, unprecedented and disruptive success formula. We are a creative container and a small format cultural agitator.
WW: Why did you decide to launch this project?
ES: The idea of bringing together my projects and professional experiences from twenty years of work in a multi-functional creative space arose during the confinement. I wanted to create a new and avant-garde container. It was not the best time to launch the project but I had full confidence in the business model. We took the risk and it worked.
Courtesy of the artist and Emiliano Suarez.
WW: As we have already mentioned, many great stars have already worked for your creative space. Have you planned the 2021 calendar yet? Are there any future activities that excite you especially?
ES: Our cultural calendar for the first quarter of the year is already closed. The exhibition of artist “Caravaca” is one of the highlights for January, following other artists of different genres such as Gerónimo Rouch, Ainhoa Arteta or Jorge Blas. We are also preparing an incredible dramaturgy around the heroines of Strauss (Salomé and Elektra) with Nicola Beller Carbone. I am thrilled with the idea of working with him. I could go on and on…there are so many amazing events we have in mind….
WW: Your opera productions are close and fun. You have managed to transgress and encourage people who had never attended the opera and enjoyed it. What is the secret to success?
ES: OperaGarage is a project shared with my friend and partner Macarena Begareche. We are a small operating company that travels through Spain performing in alternative spaces. Garages, industrial or abandoned buildings have been our hosts. Our goal is to bring the opera to new audiences, in a completely underground format and at affordable prices, not giving up on artistic level. The best Spanish lyrical singers of the moment have supported the initiative and have participated in our shows.
WW: Do you have upcoming productions in mind?
ES: We are working on the masterpiece opera “Rigoletto” that will be launched as soon as possible.
WW: Looking at your facet as a photographer, each of the series that you have exhibited talk of a city: NYC, Chicago, La Havana…Which city will be the theme of your next show?
ES: It is a ten-year project called “Textures” and the next will be Berlin and Venice.
Courtesy of the artist and Emiliano Suarez.
