Praia Piquinia: Christian Chaize

In The Pink: Art Advisory, at Quinta Shopping will be exhibiting a selection of Christian Chaize's work from his Praia Piquinia collection from the 29th of August 2024.

"In 2004, Portugal presented itself as a new landscape in my life – both literally and metaphorically. Since then, I have photographed exclusively along a very small stretch of its southern coastline. Traveling there from France several times a year, I’ve observed its nuances, noting what changes, what stays constant…the subtle and dramatic shifts in its personality, if you will. Year after year, I not only continue to experience the mystery of its appeal, I find I am more deeply intrigued.

The results of my obsession have developed into two distinct series. This is an image from Praia Piquinia, a body of work focusing on a singular, secluded beachfront in which all of the pictures are taken from what is essentially the same elevated angle. What the still-life was for Morandi, the haystack for Monet…this beach is that for me. From a distance, I observe the variables: light, weather, time of day, the ebb and flow of the ocean and most importantly, the sunbathers, unaware, below my large-format camera. The images are shot vertically, a departure from the traditional, horizontal format in landscape photography. It puts my subject matter in the form of a portrait—an ongoing record of this corner of nature (and human nature), over the minutes, the days, the years. Ultimately, I try to instill an element of time within these captured moments…visceral time, elastic from one image to another.

Praia Piquinia has peeled back layers in how I see and, as a result, in how I experience my journeys there. Together, we are evolving. The place is the same, but as always, I seek to have new eyes.

Praia Piquinia has peeled back layers in how I see and, as a result, in how I experience my journeys there. Together, we are evolving. The place is the same, but as always, I seek to have new eyes." - Christian Chaize