Donut, 2009

sebastien laboureau

May 15, 2021

Donut (Chocolate), 2009

Edition: 299 signed

Donut features a donut covered in sprinkles atop an American police van, escorted by police officers on motorbikes. The blue and red flashing lights of the police vehicles are among the few splashes of color. Obviously, just like a dignitary, the donut is heavily protected by the police. The convoy with motorbikes evokes the motorcade that traditionally escorts and protects American heads of state. Some have seen reference to Kennedy’s embarrassing blunder when he said: “Ich bin ein Berliner” in a speech during a visit to Berlin, which literally translates into: “I am a donut”. As we will see below, this is a tenacious urban legend that never happened. However, as it is often the case with Banksy’s work, it can be seen as an historical reference as well.

Donut (Strawberry), 2009

Edition: 299 signed

Banksy‘s relationship with law enforcement is obviously a nuanced one, and this topic is a recurring topic within his oeuvre. Donut could be a satirical suggestion that the police would prioritize the safety of their snacks (or their benefits, generally) over the safety of the population they are supposed to protect. Indeed, police officers are often stereotyped and ridiculed in America for their love of donuts, as commonly portrayed on TV and cinema. The artwork parodies this theme, calling into question the ethics and values of law enforcement seemingly protecting what they hold most dear.

Strawberry Donut Original, exhibited at Banksy vs. Bristol Museum, 2009

Alternatively, it could have a broader meaning. If one assumes the donut could be a symbol of American consumerism, then law enforcement clearly appears to be protecting and revering this icon of Western society’s consumerism.

Coming back to the urban legend about Kennedy, and in an effort to clarify historical facts…

“Ich bin Ein Berliner” (“I am a Berliner“) is a famous speech pronounced by US President John F. Kennedy on June 26, 1963, in West Berlin. It is widely regarded as the best-known speech of the Cold War period, and the most famous anti-communist speech. President Kennedy aimed to underline the support of the United States for West Germany, 22 months after the Berlin Wall was erected. It was a great morale boost for West Berliners, who lived in an enclave inside East Germany and feared a possible East German occupation. The message was aimed as much at the Soviets as it was at Berliners and was a clear statement of U.S. policy in the wake of the construction of the Berlin Wall.

Speaking to an audience of 120,000, from a platform erected on the steps of Rathaus Schoneberg, President Kennedy used the phrase twice in his speech, including at the end, pronouncing the sentence with his Boston accent and reading from his note “ish bin ein Bearleener”, which he had written out using English orthography to approximate the German pronunciation.

There is a widespread misconception amongst non-German-speaking countries that the phrase was used incorrectly and actually means “I am a doughnut”. Even though, it is not factually true, it has become something of an urban legend, including equally incorrect claims about the audience’s laugh at Kennedy’s use of the phrase.

RELEASE HISTORY

Unlike most of Banksy’s works, Donut was never painted in the street. Soon after the original canvas was realized, Donut (Strawberry) then Donut (Chocolate) were each released as editions of 299 signed prints, as reference to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts’ financial troubles in 2007, when it had to shut down 299 stores.

Those prints were made using an exceptionally fine screen to preserve all the cack-handed detail. Due to the high demand for previous Banksy prints, Donut was only made available through an automated reservation service. The computer randomly selected 598 names who were offered first refusal to buy a print.

It was stated that the purpose of this system was to give everyone the same opportunity to get a print, to discourage flipping and because the artist insisted on selling items below their alleged market value. A portion of proceeds from this sale went to charitable causes.

DESCRIPTION

Donut

Year: 2009

Medium: Screen-print in colors on Arches wove paper

Size: 56×76 cm (22×30 inches)

Publisher: Pictures on Walls

Editions

Donut (Strawberry): 299 signed

Donut (Chocolate): 299 signed

Hand-finished Edition: 25 signed hand-finished

Signature and Numbering

Donut (Strawberry)

Signed and numbered /299 in pink crayon with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

Donut (Chocolate)

Signed and Numbered /299 in brown crayon with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

AUCTION RESULTS

Updated as of 30 June 2022

1. Donut (Chocolate)