Great like me
(Maastricht / Plein 1992 (Av. Céramique 50)
The German artist Thomas Bürke (1980) graduated from the Maastricht Academy for Fine Arts and Design in 2010 with several videos in which he himself plays the leading role. In Great like me Bürke stands opposite himself performing a monodialogue on the truth claim in which science and religion are diametrically opposed. The quotation mimed by Bürke stems from a famous interview in which scientist Richard Dawkins questions TV evangelist Ted Haggard about knowing the truth. It is a game between the scientist, who believes he is right, and the religious person, who also believes his is right. The dedicated TV evangelist preaches to the scientist about the evolution theory during their discussion: “I don’t communicate an air of superiority over the people because I know so much more, and if you only read the books I know, and if you only knew the scientists I knew, then you would be great like me…”. Bürke’s duplication of his own personality, who tries to persuade the other Bürke of his own righteousness and greatness, creates a paradox of lies.