Thelife
Courtesy of LACMA
The star-studded party at Art Basel Hong Kong did not disappoint.
- At Art Basel Hong Kong this year, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art held an exclusive, star-studded party to celebrate its presence at the premier art fair in Asia.
- The event was held at Hong Kong's Jumbo Kingdom, the world's largest floating restaurant, and featured an elaborate 1930s theme and storyline centered around the disappearance of the character Scarlett Li.
- I attended the party, which was full of stunning visuals, a brass funk band, classic dim sum appetizers, and impromptu performances from dancers and actors.
Imagine Hong Kong in 1931 - the British still dominated the island, one of the few free ports in the world at the time. The alleys are lined with opium bars and courtesans and everyone dresses like Dean Martin or Suzie Wong.
That's the world the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) sought to conjure up at its most recent soiree celebrating the museum's presence at this year's Art Basel Hong Kong, the premier art fair in Asia for millionaire and billionaire collectors to buy and sell art.
LACMA has been working in recent years to become the authority on both classic and contemporary Chinese art, in an effort to become the "bridge between technology, entertainment, and culture in the United States and China."
LACMA's "In the Mood for LACMA: The Story of the Elusive Scarlett Li" party featured an elaborate theme and story centered around the disappearance of "the most legendary madam of the West Coast."
The star-studded event, held at Hong Kong's Jumbo Kingdom, the world's largest floating restaurant, featured a mix of celebrities, art world big shots, artists, collectors, and - thanks to a last minute invite - yours truly.
I attended to get an inside look at one of this year's most exclusive parties. It did not disappoint.