Hunnar Mohammad´s story reads like an unreal Tarantino road movie about an unbreakable family bond, the will to survive, ruthless ambition, dignity, belief - and freedom. Starring a Kurdish refugee child escaping war, learning how to turn shit into gold, becoming a Taekwando champion and a multimillionaire, superstars called "Prince Of The Night" — before making a radical decision at the peak of fame and success.
Tattoos speak a language, are personal, tell a story. "To me it´s all one.
An entire piece of art" Hunnar says, when I meet him for a cup of tea in his beautiful old finca, not far from Ibiza town. "It´s a never ending process, like everything creative you start with an idea on a blank sheet of paper. The first move makes you think, once you´ve done that kick-off-tattoo, the urge for the next comes straight away."
Which was that one? "The calligraphy of my mother's name, Fatima. On my left shoulder. She´s my angel and taught me what unconditional love is."
Fatima in Arabic (Fāțima) means "The Radiant" or "The Shining" and is the name of Prophet Muhammad's daughter. The Radiant Angel Fatima Erfaki literally took little Hunnar, brother Hardi and sister Haje under her wings and led the family into a new world of freedom. Metaphorically speaking. That motorbike riding kind of freedom, Hunnar´s father has seen in Bud Spencer movies.
Nothing Left To Lose
They fled - not on motorcycles, but on horseback - from northern Irak across the Iranian mountains and Ankara heading West. After a stopover in Holland, the family eventually made their way to Austria. Notably to Braunau, which, considering it is the birthplace of Adolf Hitler, sounds like pure mockery at first.
Hunnar laughs at the remark. This man does not suffer from his past— he always accepted his fate and made the best of it. "My experience of constant change and facing the unknown has shaped me. Perceiving change as a natural part of life's process became his mantra, rather than fighting against it. "I was never afraid of anything, in the end all is a matter of perspective to me." Even being born into a war zone terrorized for years by Saddam Hussein? "You won't believe it, but Saddam personally granted my father the exit visa when the Americans invaded my country and unleashed utter chaos." We laugh, because it´s so absurd.
You Vibe, You Ride
Finally Hunnar grew up in modest circumstances of a ghetto environment on the outskirts of Vienna. How was it to grow up as a Kurdish kid in Vienna, not speaking the language? Have you been bullied? "There have been and always will be people who look at you because you are different — but do not see. My mum always taught me to be free of prejudices, opinions and societal expectations. Those who are equally free, see us— see you. That requires a kind of frequency on which you meet. You vibe - or you don't. But we had everything we needed."
