Cover From left: Jane DeBevoise, Claire Hsu, Christopher K Ho and Özge Ersoy at the Asia Art Archive fundraiser gala dinner and live auction (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong/@Billy Chan)
From left: Jane DeBevoise, Claire Hsu, Christopher K Ho and Özge Ersoy at the Asia Art Archive fundraiser gala dinner and live auction (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong/@Billy Chan)
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Asia Art Archive celebrates its milestone 25th anniversary and rings in a new chapter
Not only did the Asia Art Archive (AAA) fundraiser gala dinner and live auction on November 14 celebrate the 25th anniversary of the independent non-profit’s founding, it also marked an exciting new chapter for the city’s art scene.
In Cloud 39, the all-glass ballroom at the top of The Henderson building, AAA staff, board members, art collectors and guests gathered to witness the transition to new leadership. Following a lion dance to bless the event, Christopher K Ho, the outgoing executive director introduced his successor: Özge Ersoy, who had been AAA’s senior curator and was promoted to the top role in September 2025.
“Twenty-five years is a very long time; [it’s] a generation’s worth of stories, connections and shared beliefs in the importance of keeping Asia’s art histories alive and accessible,” said Ho, who is now co-chair of the board of directors alongside co-founder Claire Hsu. “It is also just the beginning, as we look to the future.”
Don’t miss: Asia Art Archive’s 25th anniversary: 10 auction highlights by art experts and collectors
Georgina Hilton, Christie’s auctioneer and vice-president, head of classic art, Asia Pacific, conducting the live auction at Asia Art Archive’s fundraiser gala dinner (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong/Billy Chan)
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Ersoy said: “When I joined AAA eight years ago, I learnt that it is much more than a place that keeps archival records—it is a breathing [and] living community. It exists here today thanks to the generosity of so many artists, scholars and friends who share their personal archives, books and stories with us, so that others can connect, learn and be inspired. As we celebrate 25 years, this is not just an anniversary; we are celebrating all of you. Your belief in our mission really shapes what we are today: an internationally recognised resource, and a trusted collaborator in a vital regional hub for research and artistic exchange. So thank you for being part of the story with us.”
Hsu is confident about Ersoy’s appointment and praises her as someone who will bring “fresh energy, deep insight and a really collaborative spirit” to AAA’s upcoming direction.
Lion dancers performing at the start Asia Art Archive’s fundraiser gala dinner (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong/Billy Chan)
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After a sumptuous dinner, there was an auction of 68 artworks donated by artists, galleries and individuals. They included two new pieces created especially for the benefit: local contemporary artist Chow Chun Fai’s painting Asia Art Archive on Hollywood Road (2025) and Chinese artist Xu Bing’s Square Word Calligraphy: Happiness Depends Upon Ourselves (2025). Other highlights included teamLab’s Flower and Corpse Glitch (2012); Ming Fay’s ceramic sculpture White Peach Pit (c 1990); and Antony Gormley’s Web VI (2022), a painting that uses ink derived from inkcap mushrooms.
Under the hammer of Georgina Hilton, Christie’s auctioneer and vice-president, head of classic art, Asia Pacific, the three most expensive pieces sold that evening were by Hao Liang, Liu Wei and Xu. The proceeds will sustain AAA’s work in documenting Asia’s ever-evolving art landscape.
Read more: Asia Art Archive welcomes Özge Ersoy as new executive director amidst 25th anniversary celebrations
Alexandra A Seno introducing an auction lot at Asia Art Archive’s fundraiser gala dinner (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong/Billy Chan)
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Jane DeBevoise, AAA’s chair emeritus of the board of directors, said the support of donors and buyers is critical. She pointed out how “a simple but powerful idea to preserve and share the histories of contemporary art in Asia” 25 years ago started with just a few books on the shelves and has, over the years, “grown into the most comprehensive library and archive in the world for the field”. As well as archival work, the organisation has also engaged with hundreds of local schools, presented thousands of public programmes and reached millions through their digital platform.
“We’ve built myriad partnerships across borders disciplines and generations, and through it all, our values of generosity, collaboration and community have remained at the heart of everything we do,” she said. “AAA is not just about art. It’s about a generosity of perspectives and a deeper understanding of the way that we understand this world.”
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Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
