By Diana Uy-Chua
LAST year was undeniably a coup for artist Love Marie Ongpauco Escudero, more popularly known as actress Heart Evangelista: she got married to a politician, sold out her paintings at her first Ayala Museum exhibit, made painting on luxury bags a profitable sideline, became the first Filipino artist to be featured at the Chan Hampe Gallery at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, and even illustrated the cover of a children’s book, among others.
Her cup so runneth over, spilling to the Year of the Fire Monkey.
Off to a good start, Heart, together with longtime friend and designer Mark Bumgarner, recently launched her hand-painted couture pieces at the Dusit Thani Manila. She’s also currently preparing for her second solo exhibit, “Ocean’s Apart,” to be open later this month at the Ayala Museum.
Busy is not exactly the right word for our trailblazing artist these days. She is rarely in one place even for a small chit-chat, but still managing to look extremely chic as she goes through her several functions for the day. Heart, despite her latest focus on her art, is still an actress with a reputation for looking ever so poised and immaculate without trying so hard. She is, in fact, one of the very few actresses who can be credited for her taste in fashion and her love for designer bags. And dare we mention her refreshing wit and admirable vocabulary when it comes to answering questions from the press?
A bit of a throwback: those who grew up with the actress will always remember the time she blurted the word “excruciating” in an interview. While some crucified her for it (they still do), there were a few who took a second look at this young actress who apparently could construct sentences beyond the regular press release of local celebrities her age, and even older. It also became clear that the girl didn’t need a publicist; she could create headlines herself.
Years after that excruciating incident, Love Marie, as she would like to refer to herself when she wears the artist cap, remained consistent in terms of creating her own public image by simply saying her mind and doing what she felt like doing. Her heartbreaks and new relationships were never boring. Her quarrels with her parents were always headline material. Her spats with other celebrities were handled with a certain class (with a few slips albeit forgivable and forgettable). Her latest interests, some of them routine, would always pique the most curious entertainment writer. Of course, nothing still beats her coming out as a force of an artist.
If we go by her most recent adventures in life, Heart could be the Queen of Reinvention in the local entertainment industry. “I think it’s always important to reinvent yourself and try different things,” Heart says.
Love Marie was born under the animal sign Ox. Feng shui says that some of the best careers for Ox people include artistry, painting and politics. Love Marie, so it seems, has been heading in the right direction all along—although she has repeatedly maintained that she doesn’t see a run for office in her future.
Art is where she finds joy the most, she says, having known as a young child that it was always what she wanted to do—that and being a veterinarian. “I will paint until I die,” Heart says.
Fans of Heart the actress need not worry though, as she doesn’t plan to stop acting on TV and in films anytime soon. Showbiz played a great part in shaping and bringing together the many facets of Mrs. Escudero. For that, she is forever grateful.
At the moment, however, Love Marie’s heart is exploring her possibilities as an artist. Immortality through her canvas and paint brushes is what’s giving her purpose nowadays.
“Painting immortalizes you. People will remember you for that even if you pass away,” Heart says.