HONG KONG, April 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- "The Endless Voyage of The Grand Nomad", the third annual private party hosted by Princess Alia Al-Senussi and Dino Sadhwani during Art Basel Hong Kong was held on Thursday, 28th March 2019 at The Mills honoring both LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) and UCCA (UCCA Center for Contemporary Art). The night featured a who's who of HK society plus luminaries from the art world. The theme this year of Exploration and Discovery is inspired by early maritime exploration during the Age of Discovery. It is the bridging of the East and the West through a confluence of cultures that allowed explorers to emerge from their voyages with powerful insights and influence towards the beginning of globalization -- it is this spirit and inspiration that hosts envisioned to capture in this celebration of cultures and art.
As the culmination of Art Basel week and Art Month in Hong Kong -- this event is brought together by two visionary leaders, Michael Govan of LACMA based in Los Angeles and Philip Tinari of UCCA based in Beijing. Both institutions are aspiring to make significant impact through visual arts in the U.S. and China and are committed to showcasing this harmony of cultures and celebrating arts in its many forms through this event.
Partnered with MGM Resorts Art & Culture, curated by Jason Swamy, founder of agency "Do What You Love", produced by COI Communications, and consulted by Dejha Ti x Ania Catherine, guests were escorted from Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, to the venue with BMW's private escort fleet. As guests arrived at the venue, there was an immersive theatre experience with enigmatic actors who played the eclectic crew members on board a vessel that has travelled through centuries across different lands together with its mysterious captain. Hosted at The Mills, a landmark revitalization project of formerly defunct cotton-spinning mills by Nan Fung Group, the space was completely transformed, allowing explorers to navigate the wonderful curiosities gathered along the way in this traveler's den full of treasures. Guests were invited to the 'Bizarre Bazaar' which featured unique delicacies from around the world in a Moroccan themed marketplace area.
There were many surprises throughout the night as servers in costume were spotted roaming around in traditional Chinese outfits, inviting guests to try the local delicacies out of baskets they carried on a wooden stick across their backs, there was a secret Rum Bar where only those who were lucky witnessed a dance battle between a tap dancer and a flamenco dance on top of the bar platforms.
Spectacular performances from Vava -- the hip-hop artist rose to fame through reality show "The Rap of China", Antibalas -- afrobeat band from Brooklyn, Benji B -- Dj who reinvented music of runway in the Louis Vuitton fashion show, and BPM performers - acrobatic dance pushing physical limits, were lined up to draw cheers from adventurers during the party.
There were too many highlights to count as the crowd was enthralled by performance after performance from acts from East to West as well as dance sequences from Local talent. It lived up to the hype from last year and will certainly be remembered and a firm fixture as a must go to event in the calendar.
Teams from different industries and disciplines have gathered to create an event that celebrates and showcases the achievement of collaboration among people passionate about arts & culture. Taking place in a heritage venue in Hong Kong - the event is the representation of this powerful connection among people the celebration of art, performance, gastronomy, music and entertainment.
Some notable guests from the art world include: Alyiya Modi, Aaron Cezar, Abdullah Al Turki, Ann Philbin, Ayn Grinstein, Bo Young Song, Catalina Swiburn, Derek Sulger, Eugenio Re Rebaudengo, Jack Wadsworth, Katie de Tilly, Katie Kennedy, Marc Spiegler, Rui Huang, Selma Feriani, Stephen Little, and Suzy Wadsworth, just to name a few.
Some notable guests from the fashion and entertainment world include: Amanda Strang, Eugenie Niarchos, Fiona Xie, JW, and Wesley Wong.
Some of the local prominent guests include: Alan Lo, Alison Chan, Amanda Cheung, Caroline Fok, Christine Fok, Christopher Owen, Edward Tang, Emerald Shek, Gilbert Yeung, Ivan Pun, Jonathan Cheung, Lester Lam, Luke Fehon, Pearl Shek, Sean Lee-Davies, Stephnie Shek, Victoria Tang Owen, and Yenn Wong.
The hosts, Princess Alia Al-Senussi and Dino Sadhwani, has successfully organized yet another entertaining and eye-opening event for the third consecutive year. It is hoped that the event will continue the success in connecting art, entertainment and culture for the audience in the coming year.
Please download the high-resolution images here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/li272ojkewwzxq1/AACRsKTmcv_A-PGC_CeutlHKa?dl=0
About Princess Alia Al-Senussi
Princess Alia Al-Senussi is a patron and academic, has just completed her PhD in Politics at SOAS (UCL London). She has a degree in International Relations and Middle East Studies, a masters in Political Science and a MSc in Law, Anthropology and Society. Alia works to promote various institutions and non-profit organisations through the arts and their overlapping interests with fashion and business. She holds a variety of non-profit board and committee positions that promote young patronage of the arts in London and collecting in the Middle East. She is a founding member of the Tate's Acquisitions Committee for the Middle East and North Africa, the Board of Patrons of Art Dubai and the Middle East Circle of the Guggenheim. She served as Chair of the Tate Young Patrons and is a founding International Co-Chair of The Chinati Foundation Contemporaries Council, as well as a member of the Committee for the Serpentine Gallery Future Contemporaries group. Alia served on the Board of Trustees of the ICA London and currently sits on the Board of Trustees for the Global Heritage Fund UK. She works as the VIP Representative for the UK and the Middle East and consultant for Art Basel, as well as Advisor for Arts & Culture to Milken Institute and holds various ambassador and executive roles.
About Dino Sadhwani
Raised in Singapore and with family roots in Hong Kong, Dino Sadhwani attended university in Los Angeles and has been a passionate entrepreneur from a young age. Dino set up his first business at the age of 15, and in the years since, has developed multiple ventures in the areas of real estate, food and beverage, wellness, commodities, venture capital, and supply chain management that operate in many countries around the world.
He co-founded Iris Group in 2007. Of which, his first company 'Iris International' specializes in China product sourcing and logistics management. The company has continually grown focusing on building long-lasting client relationships based on integrity and trust. In his spare time, Dino enjoys football, tennis, mathematics, travelling and, most importantly, spending time with his three kids.
As a visionary young entrepreneur, Dino has successfully honored the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) for the past two years during Art Basel. He is a vibrant art lover, with a sharp investment point of view.
The celebration of LACMA serves to offer a unique alternative for lovers of art and culture. The ethos of his event is to eradicate cultural bias and create a sense of unity. Hong Kong, being his home, is blessed with rich heritage as well as its many quirks. These acts as the perfect canvas in which he can bring his vision to life, and in turn, showcasing this vibrant city in all its glory to an international audience.
About LACMA
Located on the Pacific Rim, LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection of nearly 140,000 objects that illuminate 6,000 years of artistic expression across the globe. Committed to showcasing a multitude of art histories, LACMA exhibits and interprets works of art from new and unexpected points of view that are informed by the region's rich cultural heritage and diverse population. LACMA's spirit of experimentation is reflected in its work with artists, technologists, and thought leaders as well as in its regional, national, and global partnerships to share collections and programs, create pioneering initiatives, and engage new audiences.
For more information, visit lacma.org.
About UCCA
UCCA Center for Contemporary Art is China's leading contemporary art institution. Committed to the belief that art can deepen lives and transcend boundaries, UCCA presents a wide range of exhibitions, public programs, and research initiatives to a public of more than one million visitors each year. UCCA Beijing sits at the heart of the 798 Art District, occupying 10,000 square meters of factory chambers built in 1957 and regenerated in 2019 by OMA. UCCA Dune, designed by Open Architecture, lies beneath the sand in the seaside enclave of Aranya in Beidaihe. Formally accredited as a museum by the Beijing Cultural Bureau in 2018, UCCA also operates non-profit foundations, licensed by the Beijing Bureau of Civil Affairs and the Hong Kong government. UCCA's commercial ventures include the retail platform UCCA Store, the children's education initiative UCCA Kids, and collaborations and projects under the rubric UCCA Lab. Opened in 2007 and revived by a committed group of Chinese and international patrons in 2017, UCCA works to bring China into global dialogue through contemporary art.
About MGM Resorts Art & Culture
MGM Resorts International Art & Culture focuses on commissioning, collecting, supporting and presenting contemporary art in and around MGM Resorts' destinations globally. Currently the MGM Resorts Art Collection includes more than 800 pieces by over 200 artists.
MGM Resorts Art & Culture was established in 2016 to encompass all of MGM Resorts' collections and varied art-related initiatives and partnerships to develop a comprehensive, multifaceted arts program. Reflecting the company's core values of inclusivity and diversity, MGM Resorts Art & Culture aims to create special, accessible experiences for all audiences. Each project thoughtfully considers the artist, the environment, and the overall experience, recognizing the power of art to evoke emotion, engage the senses, and spark conversation. Art is prevalent throughout MGM Resorts distinctive world-class brands including Bellagio, ARIA, Vdara, MGM Grand, and Delano Las Vegas; as well as MGM National Harbor outside of Washington, D.C., MGM Springfield in Massachusetts, and internationally at MGM MACAU and MGM COTAI.
Examples include works by Alice Aycock (National Harbor, Maryland), Jenny Holzer (ARIA, Las Vegas), Antony Gormley (ARIA, Las Vegas), Maya Lin (ARIA, Las Vegas), Robert Rauschenberg (Bellagio, Las Vegas), Nancy Rubins (Vdara, Las Vegas), James Turrell (ARIA, Las Vegas), among many others.
About Jason Swamy
Jason Swamy is creative visionary and thought leader that has helped shape cultural zeitgeist through art, music, food, wellness, thought leadership and community building. He's best known for his involvement with the legendary Robot Heart, award winning Wonderfruit and critically acclaimed Future Future.
He is highly sought after globally for his creative, curation and experience design ability. He's a tastemaker that has influenced many. Always pushing boundaries, his work defies definition.
Swamy has worked with A-listers from tech leader Eric Schmidt, 3 Star Michelin Chef Gaggan, Grammy Winner Skrillex to award winning hotels like The Upper House, NASDAQ liste tech behemoth Netease and innovative casino group Melco Crown to name but a few.
About COI Communications
COI stands for Collection of Individuals – we curate the best collection of talent from our core team, our vendors and collaborators and clients - because we believe that a group of likeminded and determined individuals working together in tandem can create a force strong enough to break traditions, assumptions and expectations.
Based in Hong Kong, COI Communications is a boutique events & communications agency founded with a curious spirit and a specific objective: to offer businesses a new way to engage their audience in its most genuine, yet creative form.
We don't believe in using the same formula for each project. This is why we surround ourselves with talented crafters, eccentric creatives and disruptive thinkers to ensure that each project, no matter the size or scope is as unique and enjoyable to its end users as it has been for our team to create.
About Ania Catherine & Dejha Ti
Ania Catherine is an artist and director based in Los Angeles. Her work merges performance, film, and choreography and has been shown internationally at the British Film Institute, Art Basel Hong Kong, Peacock Theatre (London), LA Center for Digital Art among others. She has designed performance installations for brands and institutions such as Adidas, LACMA and Thinx and holds a master's degree in gender and politics from the London School of Economics. Dejha Ti is a Los Angeles based immersive experience designer with no allegiance to any one medium. Her work integrates environments, bodies and creative technology.
About The Mills
The Mills, a landmark revitalisation project completed in December 2018 by Nan Fung Group, integrates three formerly separate mills of Nan Fung Textiles in Tsuen Wan into a coherent complex, encompassing a business incubator, experiential retail, and a non-profit art and cultural institution (CHAT), inviting visitors to an authentic Hong Kong story where the theme of textile is re-invented into creative experiences. CHAT's inaugural season in March presents a historic exhibition of HK's textile industrial history and a contemporary art exhibition featuring the works of 17 artists from the Asia Pacific region.
