DESIGN TRUST’s first virtual experimental fundraising event with an evening of the Milestone Book Launch, creative sharing by special guest Hans Ulrich Obrist with a mini keynote lecture and silent auction of collectibles in benefit of DESIGN TRUST took place on December 3rd 2020. The event was co-hosted by Design Trustee, Adrian Cheng and Co-founder/ Executive Director, Marisa Yiu along with Board of Directors and committee members.
A mini keynote sharing ‘In memory of Enzo Mari’ was also given by Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director of the Serpentine Galleries, followed by a conversation with Zoë Ryan, Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania and Aric Chen, Curatorial Director, Design Miami, moderated by Marisa Yiu, Co-founder/ Executive Director, Design Trust. ‘In memory of Enzo Mari’ was a tribute to the late designer, critic and theorists, and a manifesto for the democratisation of arts and culture. Highlighting Mari’s vision and influence on design, Obrist also shared his lasting legacy through the works of Formafantasma and his contribution to the environmental conversation on design.
The creative sharing summed up the spirit of the evening on resiliency, connection and philanthropy. “This is a year of collaboration, the ‘can do’ spirit encapsulated in the critically homemade project is a place for inspiration and a source of inspiration for us to understand where we are and where we might be headed in the design ecosystems and ecologies.” says Zoë Ryan, Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania and Design Trust International Advisor “we have a real opportunity to create a foundational level of support for the arts and design, which we never had before. And projects like Design Trust are really important for supporting younger talents and designers.”
Design Trust Greater Bay Area Advisor, Aric Chen also shared on the notions of structures, ownerships and the act of questioning and provocations can create more sustainable and less hierarchical ways of interactions within the world as a force for the future of institutions. The evening ended on a thought-provoking note from Marisa, Co-founder Executive Director on the reassessment of values, the role of provocation and the importance of open source and generosity especially at our current times, and how through slowness and neutrality we can infuse educational play and positive energy to the community through projects such as Critically Homemade - a testing ground for experimentation and new models of philanthropy.
“Through a series of micro-events during such a challenging year of 2020, hosted by members of our community, this special online mini event was created to support the ongoing efforts of DESIGN TRUST to meet funding obligations to programmes, grantees and fellows works. The year 2020 represents so much for all of us, a year of uncertainties, pressures of the environment, health and wellbeing; yet it has also demonstrated a calming restoration of our community’s strength to come together, and reassess values.” - Marisa Yiu, Co-founder/ Executive Director, DESIGN TRUST
