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Getting to know Taran Singh Brar, creator of 'Chicken Don'

Taran Singh Brar is a documentary filmmaker and protest artist best known for Chicken Don: a nine-metre inflatable chicken styled to resemble Donald Trump.

The playful protest art first appeared near the White House in 2017. Brar said it was intended to criticise Trump over his refusal to release his tax returns, his approach to Vladimir Putin and his confrontation with North Korea. 

Brar raised money for the project online and spent five months securing permits from the US authorities. Photographs of the installation quickly spread around the world.

Nearly nine years later, he is taking an updated version of the work overseas and seeking venues in the UK for it. He plans to turn his 'Trump Chicken' tour into a documentary and is exploring opportunities to commercialise the popular image, for example with a merchandise line. 

From biology to protest art
Before becoming a filmmaker and activist, Brar studied molecular and cell biology at the University of California, Berkeley.

His scientific background may seem far removed from political satire, but the project has required patience and practical problem-solving. Each appearance involves transport, installation and, in many places, negotiations with local authorities.

The work has also changed in response to events. The latest version, known as Felon Don, places the chicken behind bars. Brar created it following Trump’s criminal convictions in New York and the US Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity.

It appeared in Washington before Trump’s inauguration in January 2025 and has since travelled to several European cities, including Bern, Paris, Lisbon, Zurich and Geneva.

Taking the tour overseas
Brar was in Melbourne when he spoke about the next stage of the project. New Zealand, India, Britain and Scandinavia were among the possible destinations under consideration.

Though Brar has been in the UK for much of the summer, in London and Edinburgh, no British appearance for the Trump Chicken itself has yet been confirmed. Brar said he had an inflatable available for London and was open to working with local partners. Any installation would depend on permissions, funding and a suitable site.

London’s established protest locations and prominent riverside landmarks could provide a setting, although proposals involving the Thames or sites such as Parliament Square remain ideas rather than agreed plans.

Beyond the balloon
Brar sees humour as an important part of the work. The image is designed to attract attention before asking viewers to consider its political message.

He also describes the project as a defence of lawful protest and free expression. Alongside the tour, he is editing a documentary connected with his experiences as an activist.

The balloon remains the part of the project most people recognise. For Brar, however, its longevity matters as much as its size: a temporary installation has become a project he has carried across countries and through almost a decade of political change.

Speaking in the DAily Squib, Tarna Singh Brar said: "Personally I have always been interested in public service and making the world a better place. That’s why I got into politics and activism, and that’s why I remain committed to it, despite the enormous costs. I haven’t made any money out of it, but knowing I contributed to our democracy in a peaceful and impactful way makes living with the injuries Trump gave me much easier. I dream for a safe and prosperous world."

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Rob McDonald .