Donald Blue, 2022

Ruslan Kolomiyets  

With Donald Blue, Ruslan Kolomiyets revisits one of the most iconic childhood objects of the late 20th century: the Donald Bubble Gum. The artwork presents the bright blue wrapper in meticulous photorealistic detail, highlighting its bold yellow lettering and the instantly recognizable face of Donald Duck. For many across Eastern Europe, this candy was more than a treat – it became a cultural touchstone, representing both everyday joy and a rare glimpse of Western culture.

Kolomiyets’ composition is more than nostalgic; it transforms a disposable consumer product into an enduring cultural symbol. By isolating the gum’s wrapper on a neutral background, the artist draws attention to its design, colors, and the memories it evokes. In doing so, he reflects on how mass-produced imagery shaped childhood experiences, aspirations, and cultural imagination in a period of transition.

Donald Blue captures the playful innocence of youth while inviting deeper reflection on the role of branding and consumer goods in shaping collective memory. It is a work that bridges pop culture, history, and personal recollection with technical precision and conceptual depth.