Praia Piquinia 06/08/09 14h01 by Christian Chaize

Jen first introduced you all to Christian Chaize's Praia Piquinia series almost exactly two years ago. Traditionally this seems to be the dreariest week of winter on the East Coast—the ice/sleet/rain combination we're steeping in today is no exception. But we're keeping our eyes set on sunnier horizons, specifically, the ones that Christian has documented obsessively—and we're not alone.

Since that fateful day in 2009, Christian's fixation has spread to hundreds of collectors, writers, critics and taste-makers. Even before we officially set Praia Piquinia out into the world, avid readers of Domino magazine (RIP) were scouring our site for the prints. We've released two more photographs from the series and more images—larger prints in smaller, spendier editions—are available through Jen Bekman Gallery. (Email collector@20x200.com for more information.) One of those massive (88"x68") prints was featured in the December/January issue of Elle Decor, occupying a place of pride in a collector's home. Our smaller 20x200 editions are not strangers to the limelight either—they've recently been featured in print, online—on pages 44–45 in Rue Magazine—and on air, when Lonny Mag editor Michelle Adams presented a print on the The Nate Berkus Show.

As the accolades and adoration for Christian's work keep coming, supplies, correspondingly, continue to quickly dwindle. Praia Piquinia 02/08/07 15h16 and Praia Piquinia 04/08/07 16h04 are both sold out. There are just twelve 14"x11" of Praia Piquinia 27/08/09 15h17 and only 1 24"x20" (at the time of this writing) and we sent 47 of those prints out to collectors last week alone. So, consider this respite from the winter doldrums both a trip down memory lane and a little forewarning, as Jen noted at the end of this newsletter: "you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.*"

From February 5, 2009:

A my-breath-turns-to-icicles-as-I-speak hello to you on this seasonally frigid Thursday...

Praia Piquinia 02/08/07 15h16 and Praia Piquinia 04/08/07 16h04 provide the perfect backdrop for your sun and sand fantasies. It's easy to see why Christian Chaize is, as he calls it himself, "slightly obsessed" with this idyllic beach in Portugal...

The visual appeal of these images should be inarguable to all but the crankiest of sun-and-surf haters (we all know a few). The landscape is inherently photogenic, and the umbrellas and sunbathers are most fetchingly arrayed across it...

[But] what makes today's introduction extra special is its pairing with Praia Piquinia 02/08/07 15h16. As you can surmise from their titles, these photographs were taken two days apart in August, from the same vantage point. The changes — subtle or obvious, natural or man made — revealed by the passage of time, are central to the work. Seen at different days and hours, the simple charm of the vista evolves into something richer — all the details unique to each moment are evidence of the transience of time and tide, creating a framework for human narrative, real or imagined. As each element is examined and identified, the daydream becomes clearer and the feeling of being there is that much closer...

[Read the entire newsletter here.]

* For anyone out there who might be wondering (and I know you're out there!): all of our editions are limited. Once they are sold out, that's it, that's all, they're gone for good. No exceptions.