I like the idea of heaven; I’m also afraid of heights

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All I hear from decorated artists is that specificity is key, define yourself in your niche and that will make you stand out. Being a generalist is scoffed at nowadays, but the issue is that I can’t control what I’m passionate about. Filmmaking, Photography, VFX, and so much more; art has always spiked my curiosity and I can’t in good conscious cut myself off from exploring all of the secrets that I’ve yet to discover.

As a child when someone more experienced than me would show me a tip or a trick on how to do something better, I wouldn’t be able to keep myself from giggling. Having something click has always been the most euphoric feeling and although I don’t giggle much anymore, I still chase the moments where I physically feel myself gaining a deeper understanding about something.

If you look at my work I hope you see one thing – growth and progression in my quality and style. I want to advance in as many areas as possible, whether it be film, photography, visual effects or even something as seemingly unrelated as home renovation. It's a lot of work keeping up with all of these interests, but I do it because I love it. If my work holds someone's gaze for an extra half second, then I have accomplished what I set out to do. 

Each time I look back I see an even wider gap between my old self and my current self. It’s an exhilarating feeling realizing how far I’ve come and how fast I’m progressing. At the same time, with more skills, new opportunities, and gained trust from the people I work with, comes a heavier sense of responsibility. I look forward to the artist I’ve yet to become and surprising myself with how much I can truly accomplish. 

—Ahmad Merhi