Readings, discussions, and current positions on possible futures
How do extreme conditions change language? What happens to words when they are pushed to the brink of existence? And what truths emerge from writing that teeters on the precipice between life and death? Who is willing to listen? A conversation between Husam Maarouf, Alaa Alqaisi, and Esther Dischereit.
Husam Maarouf is a poet from Gaza and co-founder of an independent publishing house that publishes new Palestinian literature. His work, dedicated to the traumas of his homeland, includes two poetry collections—Death Smells Like Glass and The Barber Loyal To His Dead Clients—as well as the novel Ram’s Chisel.
Alaa Alqaisi is a writer, translator, and researcher from Gaza. She holds a master's degree in translation and is currently pursuing a PhD in Comparative Literature at Trinity College Dublin. Her writing and research explore how literature and narrative bear witness to the harshest realities of life and transcend cultural boundaries. Her work appears in publications including Literary Hub, Adi Magazine, ArabLit, and others.
Esther Dischereit lives in Berlin and is a renowned writer of prose, poetry, and essays, as well as a radio and stage author. Her works include the novels Joëmis Tisch and Merryn, two essay collections, several poetry collections, and a collection of short stories. Dischereit has also curated contemporary art and media projects. As a fellow at the Moses Mendelssohn Center for European-Jewish Studies and as a DAAD Visiting Professor of Contemporary Poetics at NYU, she has received numerous awards, including the Erich Fried Prize for her literary work in 2009.
Curated by Abdalrhaman Alqalaq, Katherine Halls, and Tomer Dotan-Dreyfus
Additional information
Dates
December 2025
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