In The Guru, a non-gendered, fashionably dressed character, walks across the screen. Facing the viewer, this protagonist – who resembles the artist – interacts and recites a speech about self-confidence, love, age, and desire. Parodying online monologues from social media, The Guru reflects on the language and shallowness of influencer culture. Unlike other influencers, who dispense guides via social networks on how to succeed in life, this guru offers neither answers nor solutions, but instead invites the viewer to question the aspirational content that we live by. At the end of the video, the image vanishes, and the character’s life-sized projected silhouette disappears, leaving behind only questions as the lights come up. Who gets to perform and who gets to follow?

Supported by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and Nir Altman Gallery, Munich.