-by Justina Speirokaite (Curator at Improper Walls)

Hi, Omar,

Thanks for agreeing to give a short interview in English.

Who is Omar Khir Alanam?
Omar Khir Alanam is writer, poetry slammer, poet, artist.

What are your inspiration and motivation?
The voices of the people in Syria during the demonstration for freedom and peace. My motivation is that I don't stop and I don't allow anyone or myself to push me down.

Recently, you have published your second book in Austria - Sisi, Sex und Semmelknödel. Ein Araber ergründet die österreichische Seele. Why did you feel that it was important to tell Austrians about themselves from your perspective?
I am in Austria since 6 years and everything here is coming normal for me, so before I lose the eye of a foreign I wanted to write it down. In the book I do not only talk about the Austrian people I also talk about the arabic people, because both of these are in me. It's an identity search, with humor and a lot of laughs.

In your book, will we discover that all cultural and linguistic cliches and stereotypes we have about each other are mostly merely a lack of knowledge and/or the absence of established relationships between people with different backgrounds?
Exactly this is what I want to say with the book. Some people said after publishing my book, to me - how could I write about the Austrians when I am only here for 6 years and then when I talk to these people I discover that they don't know anything about the arabic people and they don't have friends or anything from different backgrounds. I think you will recognize yourself in the meeting and dialogue with foreign people.

The book is published in German, are there any plans to translate it to other languages? (for people like myself who struggle with German-language :))
No, there are no plans. But if there is an offer, of course I am ready!

Where can we purchase your book and follow your work?
My website (www.omarkhiralanam.com) and social Media (Instagram/Facebook: Omar Khir Alanam).
The book you can buy on my website, online, in Austrians bookstores and in march it will be ready as an audio book.

INTERVIEW WITH OMAR KHIR ALANAM