Art aficionados and business leaders celebrate Asia House’s 20th anniversary
Philip Kim, editor of the Asia Literary Review, admires the artwork on sale in the Asia House Benefit Auction in the Asia House Gallery, alongside another guest
Art aficionados and business leaders celebrate Asia House’s 20th anniversary
23 June 2016
Asia House celebrated its 20th anniversary with a white gold-themed dinner and benefit auction on Tuesday night.
More than 80 guests attended the glittering event including Lady Felicity Wakefield, wife of the late Sir Peter Wakefield, who founded Asia House in 1996; Robert Skelton, the former Keeper of the Indian Department at the Victoria and Albert Museum and an iconic figure in the world of Indian art; Jimmy Lek, founder and director of the ArtGemini Prize; Nicola Quilter, actress and producer; Gemma Williams, author of Fashion China; Philip Kim, editor of the Asia Literary Review; Haruko Fukuda, independent non-executive director of Investec Limited; architect Omid Kamvari and Kelly Falconer, founder of the Asia Literary Agency.
The evening began with guests viewing the artworks in the Asia House Gallery, all of which were on sale in an online auction on the Paddle8 website.
A guest admires Ghazaleh Avarzamani’s baroque-inspired sculptures titled ‘Eastern Delight’. Photo by George Torode
Cherie Yeung, Deputy Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, looks at Farina Alam’s ‘Crow Crow Crow’. Photo by George Torode
Jimmy Lek, founder and director of the ArtGemini Prize, stands in front of Yuxi Tan’s ‘We are here’ (2015) which was shortlisted for the ArtGemini Prize in 2015. The piece of art work, although in the live auction, was sold to an online bidder. Photo by George Torode
Gemma Williams, author of Fashion China, looks around the art in the Asia House Gallery and chats to other guests, before the live auction and dinner. Photo by George Torode
Niru Ratnam, director of START Art Fair, examines a piece of art work over a glass of champagne. Photo by George Torode
Iconic figure in the Indian art world Robert Skelton with Fenella Greenfield Brown. Photo by George Torode
This was followed by a champagne reception and three-course dinner, during which five lots were sold at a live auction. The remaining lots were bid for online until 22 June when the auction closed. Cellist Hüseyin Gündoğdu and violinist Tadasuke Lijima played a repertoire of classical music throughout the evening.
Lady Felicity Wakefield is seen laughing with Chairman of Asia House Sir John Boyd. Photo by George Torode
Kelly Falconer, the founder of the Asia Literary Agency, is pictured at the dinner. Photo by George Torode
Guests enjoyed a three-course meal in the Fine Rooms at Asia House. Photo by George Torode
Architect Omid Kamvari, founder of London-based Kamvari Architects, is pictured, left, at the dinner. Photo by George Torode
Actress, writer and producer Nicola Quilter is seen in animated conversation at the dinner in the Fine Rooms. Photo by George Torode
Pamela Kember, head of arts and learning at Asia House, who organised the Asia House Benefit Auction, said: “It was a wonderful mid-summer evening to celebrate Asia House’s 20th anniversary by bringing old and new Friends of Asia House together and a fabulous opportunity for everyone to view some of the exciting works generously donated to the auction by artists and galleries with a connection to Asia. We are indebted to everyone for their ongoing support.”
To see a full slideshow of photos from the event click here:
naomi.canton@asiahouse.co.uk
Asia House in collaboration with ArtGemini will present the short-listed works for the ArtGemini Painting and Photography Prize 2016 at an exhibition in Asia House’s Gallery from Thursday 22 September – Friday 30 September. For more information click here.
If you would like to support us, please consider making a donation towards the Asia House arts and learning programme below. We accept donations by credit card, debit card and PayPal.
