Forced Clearly

About the Donut Works

Triadic Exploration: Conception, Perception, Reception

These three words form a natural triad in the life cycle of an idea or an artwork. They exist in tension with each other, both as a collective whole and as opposites.

Conception – The birth of an idea, an artwork, or a form. This is the act of bringing something into existence from nothingness. In a mystical or alchemical sense, it is the moment of divine spark—where raw material meets intent. In the context of these preserved donuts, this is the initial impulse: Why preserve a donut? Why choose this medium? Why do some ideas become artifacts while others dissolve?

Perception – The moment of engagement. Once an idea is formed, it exists in the world, subject to observation, interpretation, and distortion. Perception is the filter through which meaning is derived. It is the lens of history, personal bias, and cultural memory. The preserved donut is not just a donut; it is seen through the layers of nostalgia, commercialism, humor, and even memento mori.

Reception – The final stage in the cycle. This is the way an artwork is received, how it embeds itself in memory, critique, or consumption. Some ideas are celebrated, others discarded. A preserved donut might be viewed as absurd, profound, or grotesque—its reception is unpredictable. This phase also includes decay—not physical decay in this case, but the erosion or transformation of meaning over time.

Together, these three words form a self-consuming loop—a donut-like cycle. Conception begets perception, which fuels reception, which in turn influences future conceptions.