In the series Bubblegum, Karen van de Vliet explores the physical boundaries of painting. Her work moves beyond the flat surface, developing into a relief-like terrain where paint accumulates, expands and takes on an almost sculptural presence.
Working with a dense, viscous medium, she builds layered structures that evoke organic forms or microscopic landscapes. The compositions remain abstract, yet they are distinctly bodily: the gesture is not concealed but embedded in the surface. Movement, pressure and tempo remain visible, allowing the viewer to sense the act of making.
Colour plays a defining role in this series. In Bubblegum, Van de Vliet embraces bold, luminous tones that contrast with the weight and density of the material. This tension - between playfulness and physical intensity - gives the works their distinct character.
These paintings present an approach to painting in which material is not merely a vehicle for colour, but a subject in its own right.