A self-taught photographer, Serge Najjar was born in Beirut where he still lives today. He became an overnight success in 2011 after he started publishing his photographs on Instagram. His technique derives from his passion for modern and contemporary art, with Serge tracking down architecture, surfaces and ‘ordinary’ shapes and shooting them from an unusual angle, often punctuated with human form.

When did you first take up photography?
I am a lawyer and a Doctor at Law, so photography was something that all started randomly really when I was 37 years old and I was signed up to a photography class as a gift.

What drew you to this particular artistic medium and why? 
A friend of mine once invited me for lunch to his home surrounded by vineyards. He saw me focus my camera on the only concrete spot he had and was shocked that I would rather photograph concrete walls instead of the beautiful scenery. It still makes me laugh because this is the thing about my photographic inspiration: it all feels instinctive. I love the challenge of turning the common into something worth looking at. The photographic medium is perfect for that.

“My biggest challenge is something I absolutely cannot control: keeping my passion for photography intact and never let my creativity fade.”

Describe the project that you are currently working on and how did you get the idea for it?
When I was a child I had a hate relationship with art because my father who was an art collector would give too much of his time to his collection. I often felt threatened by this special relationship he had with art. Later on, while Beirut was being bombed, I spent most of my time in shelters reading my father’s art catalogues because there was basically nothing else to do. I started understanding the passion my father had for art. So I guess I went from hating art to creating art of my own. It is the irony of life. It all goes back to our childhood. Today, looking at things around me in a creative way is my ongoing project.

What is your biggest challenge as an artist?
My biggest challenge is something I absolutely cannot control: keeping my passion for photography intact and never let my creativity fade.

(From left) Reflected Red, Triangles and man; Galaxy

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given as an artist?
Zoom in. Zoom out.

Do you have plans for any future projects?
A few shows here and there: Paris Photo and a solo exhibition in France this November.

(From left) Three White Lines; Walking on a living canvas II; black and white architecture