Heart Evangelista expresses feelings through art in new exhibit

After the success of her first solo exhibit last May, Heart Evangelista has come out with a new solo exhibit, “Love Marie.”

The 10-piece, eponymous exhibit—Evangelista's real name is Love Marie Ongpauco—opened at Galerie Joaquin in San Juan on Saturday, September 20.

Evangelista cut the ribbon together with artist Juvenal Sanso, sculptor Ramon Orlina and her fiance Senator Chiz Escudero.



In an interview with GMA News Online, Evangelista said that she started painting as a child but had a hard time expressing her artistic side when she was older due to fear of criticism.

“It took a while for me to express it when I was older [because] when you're an artista, when you're a public figure, you're so open to all the criticisms, judgements. It took a lot of courage for me to come out with a painting because I felt na [people might say] 'Ah so ngayon nagpe-paint na siya.' So nauna yung consciousness ko... I really just had to be confident, brave and fearless to come out with it,” she said.

Some of her friends, including artist Ivan Roxas, insisted that she share her art with the public. The actress braved her fear and put on her first solo exhibit, earlier this year at the Ayala Museum.

Evangelista said her personal experiences play a big role in her paintings and her personal visual aesthetics.

The first painting she did as an adult was after a fight with her parents. After painting on a big canvas, the actress couldn't stop, even joking that she would quit showbiz for art.

"There was this high of achievement that I couldn't understand," she said. "It was priceless. Then after that, I just started to paint everyday. I don't want to work anymore, I don't want to be an artista anymore.  I joke sometimes, when I threaten to quit."

More than anything else, the actress uses her creative passion as an outlet—which is perhaps why most of her paintings show women expressing different emotions.

"I think it would be what I was going through and I needed an outlet and that was my only way to express myself," she said. "Sometimes, when you're open, a lot of people are looking at you or watching you or waiting for you to trip or make a mistake. You don't know how to express yourself or explain yourself anymore. So this is the best way to explain myself by not saying anything."

There's a hint of Gustav Klimt in Evangelista's aesthetic style, while Galerie Joaquin also notes that her influences include Paul Klee, Frieda Kahlo, and Sanso.

An artist from childhood, Evangelista vows to live a life of artistic expression. "I never stopped painting," she said. "I will do this for the rest of my life."

Heart's paintings were sold out before the end of the night. — BM, GMA News

“Love Marie,” featuring new works by Heart Evangelista, is on display at Galerie Joaquin until October 4. Galerie Joaquin is at 371 P. Guevarra Street, San Juan, Metro Manila.