WRITTEN BY deborah Lau-Yu
IMAGES: Butter Studios, Ikonica Images

At our inaugural Vancouver edition, we welcomed the Year of the Dragon and the 9th edition of our Magazine in an unforgettable star-studded evening with almost 200 guests at Shangri-La Vancouver. We were delighted to support the Chinese Canadian Museum, who wheeled in their almost-100-year-old wooden dragon head for the red carpet, which guests were delighted to pose with.

Trevor Hoffman played the grand Fazioli piano below the hotel lobby's 30' Chinese calligraphic artwork, welcoming guests with an arrangement of Cantopop and Mandopop music as they hung up their wishes on the iconic red wishing tree.

Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director Deborah Lau-Yu shared her vision of meaningful storytelling and design, powering the community with enriching and artful experiences. “This is just as much about leaning into our heritage as it is about design excellence,” she described when explaining her team’s annual self challenge to create a world class eventscape that celebrates the most exquisite presentation of Chinese culture in Canada. She also introduced the Fête Chinoise Cultural Foundation, a new registered charitable fund for art & culture that will allow for even bigger initiatives and experiences to take shape.

Upstairs, the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra's string trio filled the library with the full sound of music as guests enjoyed Johnnie Walker Blue Label and signature cocktails, all on the backdrop of James Jean's Year of the Dragon design for their brand and a lit-up blue bar. Cathay Pacific impressed with a draw prize for two business class tickets to Hong Kong, and an artful display of their Asian destinations. 

Inspired by the Year of the Dragon and the mountainous range of the Lost Horizon, the ballroom was transformed into two abstract dragons with amaryllis flowers in coral tones that undulated like the body of the Dragon and charming paper details that weaved in and out of the landscape. Each guest was gifted a menu that doubled as a piece of art, with gold-debossed calligraphy of auspicious new year idioms by Jameson Yap, the guest fine artist of the evening — a Malaysian contemporary Chinese calligraphy artist who blends tradition and modernity in his “River-stroke,” which was grandly displayed throughout the terrace of the event space. A featured interviewee from our 2023 Design Annual, Jameson captivated guests with a live demonstration of his calligraphy and shared insights into his artistic journey.

A hauntingly beautiful set of intimate performances and fireside chats featured Canadian singer-songwriters and actors: Hong Kong superstar Linda Chung and multi-platinum artist Tyler Shaw. They shared their diaspora stories, which were so different and yet shared similarities when it comes to the shared continuum of identity and culture.

As the night continued, singers Ivan Wong and Sean Jones, accompanied by The Collective, serenaded guests with classics like Jacky Cheung's "Love is Eternal" and "Stand by Me." Celebrities and community leaders walked the red carpet, including Master of Ceremonies Tracy Tong, actors Steph Song and Fiona Fu, producer Ben Lu, TV personality Lien Yeung, singer songwriter Ginalina, hotelier Joo Kim Tiah and partner Sandy Chen, Phantom Estates Winery owner Ritcher Bai, and heads of many Chinese associations in Vancouver.

Local dessert shop Snackshot impressed guests with a host of intricate mahjong pudding (literally, red bean and coconut pudding shaped and designed like mahjong tiles), edible rice paper and a sweet soup with drizzled calligraphy.

The Hon Hsing Athletic Club danced through the space with a lively Lion dance, while Haidilao presented their face-changing spectacle and surprised guests with the traditional performance.

It was a heartfelt evening, and one of the most visually beautiful events in the city, and guests are already buzzing about next year!

Edited from National Post, March 16, 2024.
For additional event highlights and behind-the-scenes stories, stay tuned for our 2024 Design Annual.

A SPECIAL Thank you
To our sponsors, exhibitors, partners, table hosts, committee members & Guest Ambassadors

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