Cover Noah Horowitz, Hermes Li and Vincent Lim celebrate Art Week at the Design Trust gala on March 20 (Photo: courtesy of Design Trust)
Noah Horowitz, Hermes Li and Vincent Lim celebrate Art Week at the Design Trust gala on March 20 (Photo: courtesy of Design Trust)
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Design Trust pulled out all the stops on March 20 as it held its most ambitious charity benefit yet—whisking guests from Central up to the Peak for a night that was equal parts glam, culture and good cause
The evening kicked off at St John’s Building on Garden Road, where cocktails and canapés by The Peninsula Hong Kong set the tone. Guests mingled over an auction preview before boarding the iconic Peak Tram, VIP passes in hand, for the journey up to La Vache! at The Peak Tower, with Hong Kong’s skyline as the backdrop. The dress code was sneaker glam—naturally, because when the theme is The Art of Movement you’d better wear comfortable shoes.
Guests included Yenn Wong, Daphne King Yao, Christopher Owen, Adrienne Hui, Princess Alia Al-Senussi and Justin Ng.
At the heart of it all was Marisa Yiu, co-founder, lead curator and executive director of Design Trust, who conceived this year’s theme. The Art of Movement explored design through the lens of Hong Kong’s urban dynamism—its streets, its skyline, its buildings—celebrating the city’s iconic landscape from the Central waterfront to Victoria Peak. Yiu’s curatorial vision traced Hong Kong’s architectural evolution from the 1960s through to the present day, with a special nod to the HSBC Building, designed by Lord Norman Foster, which marked its 40th anniversary in April.
Benjamin Vuchot and Marisa Yiu
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The night featured a live auction, pledges and a stunning exclusive premiere of an artist film by Wilson Shieh and JPS Gallery, followed by a live performance by Ryan Hui, and DJ sets that kept the energy electric well into the night.
Every dollar raised will go directly towards Design Trust’s vital work: expanding its digital and architectural grants archive; supporting initiatives including the Futures Studio Greater Bay Area programme, a forward-thinking creative platform pairing established architects and designers with emerging talents in a mentorship programme; and nurturing the newly launched Design Trust Fellowship at V&A East in London to foster international exchange.
An accompanying charity exhibition, The Art of Movement, was open to the public from March 27 to April 12 at St John’s Building, which was worth visiting during Art Week and beyond.
Credits
Photography: Courtesy of Design Trust
As Content Director at Tatler Hong Kong, Tara shapes the brand's editorial vision across social, digital and print, and reports on Asia's most influential figures — from CEOs and leaders across business, style and the arts. In her dual role as Head of VIP, she also drives the planning and execution of Tatler's flagship IPs, curating star-studded events and building 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.
