Counterpoint Whit Stripes

Elvis Joan Suárez

Style and Studies:

Elvis Joan Suárez (1978), kinetic-musical artist. His work focuses on the exploration of color and sound, closely tied to synesthesia, as well as the influence of Venezuelan and Latin American kinetic art, counterpoint techniques, and musical composition, alongside an eclecticism that led him to synthesize various trends, including medieval music, Renaissance music, the archeometer, Le Corbusier's "Modulor," musical serialism, Alexander Scriabin's synesthetic theory, and the construction of Zen gardens.

He began his musical studies at the “Miguel Ángel Espinel” School of Music in San Cristóbal, Táchira (Venezuela), studying classical guitar with Rafael Suárez. He took master classes with legendary guitarist Alirio Díaz and prestigious teacher and soloist from the Royal College of Music in London, Carlos Bonell. He attended courses by composer Blas Emilio Aterhortúa. He graduated with honors from the “Vicente Emilio Sojo” Conservatory of Music in Barquisimeto in 2004, with degrees in classical guitar and musical composition. He graduated in music from UPEL and taught composition, music history, and counterpoint at the same conservatory from which he graduated, later at the UCLA University in Barquisimeto (Venezuela).

Work and Career:

His works have been premiered and recorded in various parts of the world. Notably, his “Delta No. 1” premiered in Sydney, Australia, at the “Sydney Guitar Festival” with 27 guitarists arranged in a triangle, conducted by the prestigious guitarist Carlos Bonell. This same piece was performed at the seventh Guitar Festival Shell in the Town Hall Ruins of Darwin. Through Bravo & Music editions, a limited edition of 100 copies of Delta No. 1 was published. The renowned Australian duo Sydney Guitar Duo commissioned him to compose “Las Dos Columnas.”

In the Yamaha Competition in Caracas 2010, his work for Solo Flute Circulo No. 2 was included as part of the competition. In 2007, the Colombian quartet Atemporanea recorded his work: Rombo No. 1, also performing this piece in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Irish guitarist Gary Ryan premiered his “Pasacaglia y Variaciones” at Bolivar Hall in London during the “Transformations Music Series” festival. He composed “Mensaje de las Estrellas II” for Venezuelan guitarist José Luis Lara and dedicated his work “Theotokos” as a tribute to John Tavener for Paraguayan guitarist Bertha Rojas.

Elvis Joan Suárez's visual art has participated in various group exhibitions and is displayed in some galleries in the United States and Venezuela, as well as in private collections. His work Rombo Scriabin was exhibited at the New York art fair Superfineart. In 2021, his works “Círculo No. 2” and his pieces for guitars, Yerma and Theotokos, premiered at the music festival in Reynosa, Mexico, and the Guitarra Almada festival in Venezuela. The prestigious “Tocar y Luchar” competition of the Olivetti Foundation in Germany commissioned two works from him: “Círculos Modulores” for flute and “Circle Le Tombeau Atherhotúa” dedicated to Colombian composer Blas Emilio Aterhortúa, with the latter becoming a finalist. In 2023, the “Jesús Soto” string quartet premiered his work “Círculos Modulores Cinéticos” in Chicago. His work “Counterpoint Black” participated in the Open of San Felipe 2023 in Bogotá at the Casa Debut Gallery.