New year’s call for new traditions, and in London this LUNA new year, The House of KOKO teamed up with esea contemporary for a one-night-only celebration that felt like a joyful reunion of friends from near and far. 

Championing the cause was Nick Buckley Wood of Sotheby’s, who led a brilliant committee to include the likes of Archie Keswick, Bettina Kadoorie, Elly Lam, Ivan Pun, Jonathan Cheung and more — all rallying behind esea, the UK’s only non-profit art space dedicated to artists and practices shaped by East and Southeast Asian cultural backgrounds. 

For dinner, we feasted on all my favourite Cantonese classics, and sipped on delightful Shang Yantai cocktails, and as more guests arrived for the party, the atmosphere was abuzz with excitement. We then wandered through an immersive series of spaces, from the Roof Terrace to the Dome and into the Fly Tower, getting swept up in the music, contemporary art and immersive performances — including a mesmerising candle-wax burlesque moment that was equal parts playful and unexpected. All of which transformed the House of KOKO into a vibrant cultural experience, celebrating the Year of the Horse. 

 Guests enjoyed a curated programme of DJ sets from Nicolette, Didi Han, Yu Su, Kim & Alex Turnbull, and Yeti Out, alongside a special live performance by visual artist Izumi Kato & The Tetorapots, which got everyone dancing into the early hours of the morning.