First time placed at the start of Hong Kong Art Week, Design Trust Gala 2023 “The Art of Presence, Hong Kong” was successfully held on March 18th 2023 with over 360 guests from all over the world and Hong Kong. Design Trust would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our community: Creative Collaborators, Board Members, Benefit Committee Members, Table Patrons, Trustees, Sponsors, long-term dedicated Partners and Auction Lot Donors and for their generous patronage and moderators to champion our creative resilience and shape our culturally rich future together. We are so empowered by all of your contributions and supporting our growth.
“The Art of Presence, Hong Kong” curated by internationally famed designer and lead designer of Regent Hotel and also Design Trust Futures Studio 2022 master mentor, Chi Wing Lo, and Marisa Yiu, Co-Founder, Lead Curator and Executive Director of Design Trust, celebrated the alluring power of both presence and absence as a philosophical gesture, artistic and material manifestation of humanity, and optimism that restores community connection and collaboration. The poignant curatorial theme was brought to life at the event through scenographic design, site-specific performances and installations by a host of creative collaborators including local creatives Xiaolin, Stephanie Teng and Henry Chu, and Design Trust designer-mentees and grantees including Batten & Kamp, Niko Leung, Xavier Tsang, Adelaide Tam and Zheng Zhou.
Design Trust was honoured to present Design Trust Legacy Award 2023 to Dr. Victor Lo for his longstanding championing of the creative industries and his critical role in shaping the cultural landscape of Hong Kong. Mr. Chi-Wing Lo was presented the Design Trust Heritage Innovator Award 2023 for his pursuit of timelessness. The inaugural Design Trust Arts Prize was awarded to Ms. Cao Fei for her contemporary artistry.
With both Live Auction and Silent Auction, the charity event featured an extensive collection of 46 art, design, and experience lots, each donated by patrons, including blue-chip galleries, collectors, and luxury lifestyle purveyors. This year’s auction included works by Tsang Tsou-choi, William Lim, anothermountainman (Stanley Wong), Zaha Hadid, Jaffa Lam with Axel Vervoordt, Danh Vo with White Cube Gallery, Brian Rochefort with MASSIMODECARLO as well as many other leading artists from Hong Kong and abroad, with Phillips Auction House as auctioneer.
“My excitement of being able to host and realize this year’s gala is beyond words and humbling to see so many collaborators come to support us,” says Marisa Yiu, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Design Trust. “It has been a very challenging years and months for so many people and organisations, and I would like to thank everyone’s support from the bottom of my heart to make this year’s gala possible. We believe in design and the positive impact it brings to our daily life. This year’s theme ‘the ART OF PRESENCE’ is a collective testament to our community to gather and support the ongoing inspirational research, projects and ongoing granting projects to connect various generations, and which impact our city with optimism, energy and vibrancy of shaping our cultural community.”
All fundraising proceeds go towards ongoing design research, community projects and cross-cultural programmes, such as DESIGN TRUST FUTURES STUDIO micro-parks programme that is ongoing with key projects recently opened in the neighbourhoods in Hong Kong; future partnership programmes in Greater Bay Area, education, design development projects, and grants for the DESIGN TRUST, focusing on the community, sustainability and Hong Kong’s forefront role in design and creativity. Please continue to support Design Trust.
