Cover Benjamin Cha, Jane DeBevoise and Claire Hsu at the Asia Art Archive’s 2024 gala dinner (Photo: Felix SC Wong)
Benjamin Cha, Jane DeBevoise and Claire Hsu at the Asia Art Archive’s 2024 gala dinner (Photo: Felix SC Wong)
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Every year, the Asia Art Archive’s art-focused charity gala dinner draws the best of Hong Kong’s art community. This year’s event, which took place on November 1, was no exception
On November 1, the Asia Art Archive (AAA) celebrated its 24th anniversary with its annual fundraising gala at the China Club. This highly anticipated event brought together 160 members of Hong Kong’s vibrant art community, including notable figures such as Benjamin Vuchot, Johanna Arculli and Johnson Chang.
The auction featured more than 50 pieces generously donated by artists, galleries and individuals worldwide, as well as heartfelt speeches from AAA founder Claire Hsu and executive director Christopher K Ho.
Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting the AAA’s digitisation lab—a state-of-the-art digital archiving facility for arts and culture in Asia, slated to open in July 2025. The AAA’s goal is to build a new laboratory for receiving, sorting, conserving, digitising and sharing materials about Asian art that might otherwise be lost and to train and develop the next generation of archivists to preserve and document Asian art history.
Christopher K Ho at the Asia Art Archive’s 2024 gala dinner
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Over the past decade, AAA has established itself at the forefront of digital archiving, boasting over 83,500 records as of 2024. With 20,000 additional archival materials projected for digitisation in the next two years, AAA is on a mission to develop enhanced facilities to support its growing needs.
Ho emphasised the importance of the AAA’s mission: “I’m often asked what archiving entails. How does a box of crumbling Polaroids in an artist’s loft become an organised, digitised and searchable set of valuable historical documents? These are questions we ask ourselves, as AAA embarks on a quest on the eve of our 25th anniversary.”
The excitement escalated with a live auction led by Georgina Hilton of Christie’s, who had guests in stitches with her quick wit. The evening served as a powerful reminder of art’s ability to bridge cultural, linguistic and societal divides, fostering a strong sense of community among attendees.
Credits
Photography: Felix SC Wong
As Content Director at Tatler Hong Kong, Tara shapes the brand's editorial vision and reports on Asia's most influential figures — from CEOs and business leaders to designers. In her dual role as Head of VIP, she curates star-studded events and builds the relationships and communities that define the brand. Born and raised in the Middle East, she honed her craft in Dubai, crafting communication strategies for luxury brands across the Gulf. Follow her on Instagram @tarasobti.
