“More communication, please!”

Abdullah Karam im Gespräch mit Anita Moser über seine künstlerische Arbeit, das Potenzial von Computerspielen und Salzburg als Ort kultureller Teilhabe und Produktion

Would you regard yourself as a political artist? Do you use your art in a political way?

I don’t want to put myself into one category. I don’t like the question “Who are you?”. It’s better to ask me who I am not. I don’t like to limit myself.

But if making the world a better place means being political, then yes, I am political. If trying to fix something means I am political, then yes. If trying something new in this society, which always has been firm and unalterable, like the education system, means I am political, then yes.

I would like to come back to the limitations, like money or networks, that someone might not have. They exist and are challenging …

No, not at all, because it’s possible to make money and to make connections. You just have to go above your fear and across those borders, which don’t actually exist – only in your head. You have just been afraid or shy. If you go above that once, you will go above that twice und so weiter. Make up your mind first and the money will come.

But there are real borders for people who are for example physically handicapped.

No, there are not. Everybody is limited. We can’t fly. Can you fly? No! I can’t fly, either. In my opinion, everybody is equal. Those who are handicapped, they also have their own thing. So let’s say I had an accident, and I can’t move for a month. And I want to share my ideas and I want to walk – I will find a way to walk. I will have a computer in front of me and start programming and walk with it. There is no limit. In this generation, es gibt keine Ausrede.

It’s just that they really have to go across those borders of being afraid or being ashamed – which I was because of my Syrian origin. I was charged the whole time with “You are nothing”. Life is so painful, but if you get above that, you will get above everything again and again. Physical handicaps are no excuse – maybe mental handicaps. I don’t know, I am not handicapped, so I also can’t tell you. But that’s how I think.

Some people would say the society and its system has to change in various ways so that different people have easier access to certain organizations, to resources, etc.

In order for society to change, we better start with ourselves. That’s what I believe. I know it sounds cheesy, but if you want to change the society, change yourself first and don’t force the society. Forcing is the worst thing that you can do when it comes to change.

At the symposium in last December, we talked about refugees and art and media. If you think, for example, about different artistic initiatives with refugees, what is the most problematic for you in this context?

Problematic? Maybe the stereotypes. Maybe how people here are looking at us, how they think about the word “refugee”. I don’t want to go to an event and show up like a stereotypical refugee because I am living my life now and I am not a refugee anymore. I have a residence at the moment, I have two jobs, I work a lot, I have learned a language – I am just a foreigner in the country and am allowed to stay here.

Would you do Path Out again?

Of course! In a way, we are trying in the game to show the people as human beings – not as refugees, not as Muslims, not from one perspective but through your own. We are human and have common interests, and when humans have common interests, they won’t care if somebody is black, yellow or whatever. Everybody has a kid inside. Kids are simple and like playing together.

What are your wishes and visions when it comes to cultural participation in Salzburg and beyond?

I wish that everybody would communicate more. Try not to always put headphones in your ears. Communication is a beautiful thing. If we lose it, we lose ourselves. And if we lose ourselves – what is left? It’s easy to plug someone and it’s easy to ignore something. More meetings, more communication! Let’s unite; let’s accept each other and be honest with each other. I think, in the future, being honest will solve a lot of things.

Thanks for the talk, Abdullah!

Das stark autobiografische Computerspiel über die Flucht aus Syrien ist als klassisches Rollenspiel entworfen. Einzelne Szenen werden von Abdullah Karam über Videoeinspielungen aus dem Off kommentiert. Informationen zum Spiel eine Demoversion sind hier zu finden: https://causacreations.net/portfolio/path-out/ (letzter Zugriff: 06.09.2018)

Anita Moser, Abdullah Karam ( 2018): “More communication, please!”. Abdullah Karam im Gespräch mit Anita Moser über seine künstlerische Arbeit, das Potenzial von Computerspielen und Salzburg als Ort kultureller Teilhabe und Produktion . In: p/art/icipate – Kultur aktiv gestalten # 09 , https://www.p-art-icipate.net/more-communication-please/