Flag of Harderwijk Painting

Biography Philipine Vinke (Ermelo, The Netherlands, 1968): Core themes in Vinke’s “Bubble Gilding” works centre around specific social constructs she calls ‘bubbles’. Powerful examples are national flags, the monetary system and paradoxes in (lack of) transparency in public and private lives. We all live inside our own bubble. Omnipresent as bubbles are, we hardly notice them. If we do, we prefer not to pop. We love our bubbles and to enhance their importance, we “gild” them. Vinke is Bubble Gilding. She translates here themes by using techniques that express the formation of bubbles through fluidity and viscosity, enhanced by the richness of minerals and relevant recycled materials. The early techniques were developed through 2014-2015. Every work contains 24 carat gold leaf, vast amounts of pure pigments, bubbles (secret ingredients) as well as faux gold leaf and epoxy. Her latest works are made with recycled mirrors and industrial waste from the aluminium melting factory in her home town. To complete the ‘used-and-obsolete-theme’, the mounting system is made from recycled industrial waste of the curtains and blinds factory, also situated in her home town. Vinke is captured by the paradox of fluidity versus viscosity. “Fluid materials have the capacity to capture bubbles. I have been able to integrate modern materials, such as epoxy and mirror-glass with old techniques as watergilding and "verre églomisé". Her pieces are held in private international collections. Vinke’s series: “Obsolete Ego’s” 2017-2018 Partially Transparent used mirrors with epoxy “Hallo Spetters”/”Dancing Splashes”: 2017-2018 Mirrors & solidified aluminium droplets “Useless Bowls” 2016-2018 Freehand casted 3D objects (epoxy) “Welcome Pennants” (Welkomstwimpels) 2015-2018 Freehand casted 3D objects (epoxy) “Bubble Gilding Originals” 2014-2016 Rectangular epoxy wall-objects Site specific installations: “Vergulde Plint” (2018) 10 metres of gilded mobbing boards at former bank office, Nijkerk. “Scherven Brengen Geluk/Shards of Happiness” (2018) Installation consisting of shards of original first piece of “Hallo Spetters” (110 x 225cm), that fell off the gallery wall. Every visitor is invited to a piece of happiness and good fortune, symbolised through the gift of one of the many shards to constitute the installation. Displays 2018: Nunspeet-Yerevan (Armenia)-Biddinghuizen