THE INADEQUACIES OF LANGUAGES II: GERMAN
Doughnut box, 2001

40 years ago, on June 26th 1963, John F. Kennedy addressed the free world from the Berlin Wall on Rudolph Wilde Platz. His intention was to emphasize the gulf between the liberties that were available to those in western society, and those oppressed under Soviet rule. Quoting the proud boast of the free who inhabited Imperial Rome with “civis Romanus sum”, he went further by identifying himself directly with the one million people in attendance with the declaration: “Ich bin ein Berliner”, by which he intended to say, “I am a Berliner”. He even went as far as to inscribe it phonetically on his cue card, “Ish bin ein Bearleener”. What most in the crowd are said to have heard was, “I am a doughnut”. A berliner is a large, doughnut-like pastry.

METEMPSYDOUGHSIS – THE TRANSMIGRATION OF DOUGH
Single channel DVD, 4:40’, 2003

A short video film documenting the migration of the doughnut. First imported to the United States in the 17th century by Dutch pilgrims, the olykoek underwent a number of changes in characteristics before an American sea captain, Hanson Crockett Gregory, invented the now familiar hole in its center. After being re-imported to Europe for US troops during both World Wars, Gregory’s ring doughnut became the most recognizable form of an otherwise commonplace piece of fried dough.