In this Tatler exclusive, the Libyan princess and arts patron, who will be back in Hong Kong for Art Basel, is hosting the Dragon Icons party along with K11 at Dragon-i in honour of LACMA and UCCA. She shares how the event supports the arts community—and why ‘dancing on the table is a must’ at this party
As the largest art museum in the western United States with a collection of more than 149,000 objects that highlight 6,000 years of artistic expression across the globe, Los Angeles County Museum of Art—or LACMA as it’s better known—has made a name for itself in Hong Kong with its unforgettable event experiences during Art Basel. Previous editions of the event were always hosted on a Thursday, at cultural and historic sites of Hong Kong, including the Harilela Mansion in 2017, Jumbo Kingdom in 2018 and The Mills in 2019 and K11 Atelier in 2023.
This year’s event will be held on Wednesday, March 27, owing to Easter weekend and will once again be hosted by princess Alia Al-Senussi and entrepreneur Dino Sadhwani. To celebrate the Year of the Dragon, the party is called Dragon Icons, and it will be held at Dragon-i, the legendary fashion and culture hotspot founded by Gilbert Yeung, in collaboration with Shanghai Tang.
Read more: 9 exhibitions on during Art Basel Hong Kong week highlighting women artists you don’t want to miss
We’re excited to have you back in Hong Kong this month. What can attendees expect at this year’s party?
It’s so important for Dino and I to use this moment to reflect and the ReStart Art Club [last year] was exactly that—a community celebration about the complete rejuvenation and restart of Hong Kong and the art world, as well as the incredible week that is Art Basel. That’s why in 2023 we made sure we were as inclusive as possible, working with all these amazing host chairs, committee members and friends to bring everyone together. This year, we want to make it about a moment of introspection and really go back to basics, but in a different way, with those nearest and dearest to us. We want to make [this year’s party] about iconic Hong Kong. We are celebrating together as Dragon Icons. It is going to be a different vibe and one that is very much focused on the idea of fun and family. It’s about our chosen family that carries us through dark periods by bringing us joy, mirth and happiness. After all, it is the Year of the Dragon, so we thought how better to commemorate and celebrate than to take over Dragon-i and fully unleash—dancing on tables is a must.
What is the theme or concept behind this year’s party?
At the heart of this year is the iconic dragon. We’re celebrating at Dragon-i, the legendary hotspot and in collaboration with Shanghai Tang. Dino and I wanted the heart of this year to be about our friends and this extraordinary city. We’re coming together to support the artists, the galleries, and above all, the community. We want this to be a joyful evening, a proper dance night and a proper party. We know that these moments can be fleeting, so we want to capture what we can, when we can.
What’s the dress code this year?
We want to celebrate iconic glamour, so it’s very much Dragon Icon Tang. This means Hong Kong at its best, at its wildest. We worked with Victoria Tang-Owen [Shanghai Tang’s Director of Arts, Culture and Heritage] and came up with the event’s dress code, which is all about capturing the spirit of this unique and vibrant theme. We want everyone to feel bold and daring, and embrace the fusion of traditions and modernity, in attire and in attitude.