Visual Feast of Whimsy and Pop Culture

Scott Garceau’s Donut Stop ‘Til You Get Enough reimagines iconic album covers with the delightfully absurd presence of oversized, scrumptious donuts.

Words Bridgette Yutuc
Photos Crucible Gallery
May 22, 2025

From April 29 to May 11, Donut Stop ‘Til You Get Enough transformed the Crucible Gallery into a playful, pop art dreamscape. The exhibit is the brainchild of Scott Garceau, Lifestyle Editor at Philippine Star, who fused iconic music imagery with indulgent sweets—most notably, giant donuts—to whimsical and thought-provoking effect.

“This series started a few years back as part of a larger initial concept about album covers paired with food, fruits, etc.” Garceau said when asked about his initial inspiration. “I came to think about it during Covid lockdown, when we had lots of food delivered. And in my spare time, I listened to a lot of vinyl records. The initial image was The Cars’ Candy-O album, but instead of a Vargas model reclining on a line drawing of a sports car, it was a huge pink donut. I found the image comforting.”

What started with one pink donut quickly grew into an irresistible obsession. Garceau likens the surreal impulse behind his creations to René Magritte’s “The Listening Room,” where a giant apple fills a small space, distorting perception and playing with scale. The series includes playful takes on Led Zeppelin’s “I Can’t Quit You Baby,” The Who’s “Bargain” from Who’s Next, Grace Jones’ “Slave to the Rhythm,” The Cars’ “Dangerous Type,” and the idea of the “Fifth Beatle,” among others.

Sweet, Subversive, and Surreal

The tension between the rebellious spirit of classic rock and the innocent indulgence of donuts gives the works their punch. There’s humor, but also commentary. The artist mentioned how donuts are often seen as disposable indulgences, mirroring how some regard pop music—catchy and consumable, but lacking depth. “Maybe it comments on our consumer fetishism too, how what we seek images on social media, increasingly, that can be hollow, with nothing at the center.”

Each piece begins with a careful selection of an album cover, then reimagined with an out-of-place donut that somehow feels right at home. The result is a collection that walks the line between nostalgia and satire, pop art and surrealism.

The project was about “veering away from seriousness whenever possible. This was an opportunity to look for puns, humorous associations, and surreal connections. I was inspired by pop art and surrealism,” Garceau explains.

What’s Next?

When asked what lies beyond Donut Stop ‘Til You Get Enough, Garceau shares there was another project idea in the works—one very different in tone.

“I remember being torn between two themes around the time of the US elections: one was the donuts, and the other was a series of dark, distressed US flags. I was so dismayed after the elections, the donuts won out. They cheered me up. Maybe now I’ll go back to the flags.” 

Whether he turns to darker themes or continues along his sugary path, Garceau’s work invites viewers to see the familiar in new, imaginative ways.