Tomorrow, 9 November, is a special day for Manila's high society, cultural enthusiasts and serious visual arts collectors. Our favorite portraitist, Rupert Jacinto, is giving us a different kind of creative treat — he is unveiling, by invitation only, Bohemia, an art exhibit of 20 contemporary paintings at the 1335 Mabini Art Gallery in Karrivin Plaza, Chino Roces Avenue.

While this may seem quite a surprise, a departure from his romance with the glamorous and beautiful through his photographs, Rupert has not exactly shifted to a new medium. Since his youth, he has always pursued this relatively unknown passion of his, painting. This exhibit, thus, is an actualization of his other artistic self.

Guests of honor are:  Consul Helen Ong, Mache Torres Ackerman, and Aida Posadas. Supporting Rupert in his latest artistic endeavor are Tita Trillo of Titania Wine Cellar, Campari and L.F. Johnson Public Relation. The exhibit will  be open to gallery viewers from 10 November to 9 December.

Below are excerpts from the Daily Tribune interview with Rupert Jacinto:

Daily Tribune (DT): Why did you choose to paint this time? Is this an old talent that you have seldom used?
Rupert Jacinto (RJ): I have mounted several one-man exhibits of my paintings in the past. In 2009, I had a one-man exhibit entitled Mixed Media. In 2016, I had Freudian Dream at the Marriott, then Black Magnificence in 2018.  I've been painting since I was in high school.

DT: What does the title of the exhibit, Bohemia, signify?
RJ: It signifies the unconventionality of my works.

DT: Does the exhibit have a unifying theme? Or are they a hodge-podge of your artistic imaginings?
RJ: The unifying theme is the freedom of my strokes which is evident in "Dancing City," inspired by the "Dancing House of Prague" and "I Am Energy" among others. Where with a brush in each hand, I paint simultaneously and spontaneously creating movement as well as beauty to the eye.

DT: Rupert Jacinto, I believe, doesn't just shoot and shoot when he does a portrait. What goes into your creation of a painting? How do you conceptualize a painting?
RJ:I love space, beauty and uniqueness.When I create, I let form take its course. I do not plan to do this or do that; it just happens. I love spontaneity.

DT: How would you compare painting with photography?
RJ: Both painting and photography share the artistry of the total picture.

DT: Which is easier or more challenging to you, painting or taking photographs?
RJ:Taking photographs is more challenging. In doing a family portrait, I'm very particular with the sitting, the creative pose, the balance, symmetry, the total look.

DT: Why did you not choose to paint portraits of society personalities, something you're very familiar with? How do you feel about your shift to painting, whether temporary or permanent?
RJ: My style of painting is, contemporary. No, I haven't shifted; painting only re-surfaced due to the pandemic. I'm now working on three projects for release next year: Faaabvlous Eleven for November next year;  Decade of Faaabvlous coffee table book, a compilation of the subjects from Faaabvlous 1 to 10, and also Having a Ball At Home Book Two.

DT: What inspires you?
RJ: Art and beauty inspire me.

DT: With due respect, and without sensitivity to your feelings, where is Tina, your late wife, in your exhibition? Did she know that you could paint? How has her absence led to this new artistic pursuit of yours?
RJ: Yes, Tina always knew of my interest to paint, as an earlier photo of my painting hung in our first residence. She was always supportive of my art and craft. I'm quite sure that she had something to do with the setting up of this coming exhibit. I met the gallery owner Marisa Gutierrez through its curator, Kristoffer del Villar, and the next thing I knew, we were setting up a date for my show.  Marisa has been most encouraging.

DT: Who are your favorite Filipino and foreign visual artists? In what way did they influence your works in this exhibition?
RJ: My favorite local visual artists are Ramon Orlina, Betsy Westendorp, and Eric Cachero. I have always been fascinated by the works of Frankenthaler and De Kooning. I like the creative freedom of expression of their works. That's where I'd like my works to lead to, but my art is strictly my own. I would like to do more wild works of art that goes beyond space and time.

DT: Where is this leading to? Can we look forward to your next exhibition?
RJ: Definitely, onwards to future works.