This year’s bash celebrated the synergy between art and music by asking musicians to collaborate with artists and perform the results. Co-host and ELLE editor-in-chief, Lorraine Candy, welcomed a cool crowd that included Kate Moss , Jamie Hince, Pam Hogg and Bella Freud . Artist Tracey Emin got the party started giving the DJ ‘direction’, asking him to up the tempo. Meanwhile, Razorlight’s frontman Johnny Borrell, wearing Gucci , put in a sneaky early bid for a Keith Coventry monochrome oil painting, one of the 14 artworks up for auction.
As waitresses topped up champagne glasses and served oysters and mini chicken pies, the star-studded audience gathered for the evening’s unique performances. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing my boyfriend Jamie playing,’ revealed Kate, who did rock n’ roll glamour in a beaded vintage dress and black coat.
Musician Bishi, dressed in a metallic blue catsuit, kicked things off with a surreal performance art piece with futuristic visuals by digital artist Oscar Sol. Bat For Lashes singer Natasha Khan was up next. Dressed in a black leather pencil skirt, white vest and blonde wig, she was introduced as Pearl. ‘This is the first time I’ve sung as Pearl my alter ego. She makes me madder on stage’, she told ELLE. With Andy Warhol film ‘This Is Kiss’ as her backdrop, and accompanied by a string quartet, she mesmerised the crowd with her melancholy vocals. But the unique collaborations didn’t stop there. Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie took to the stage in a glittery suit, performing ‘Wild Thing’ with special guest star The Kills’ Jamie Hince on guitar. Kate watched and gossiped from the sidelines with Bobby’s wife, stylist and editor Katy England.
After the performances it was time for the bidding wars. Hands flew in the air from all corners as Gavin Turk’s Sid Vicious screenprint, Thomas Ruff’s C-print photograph and a graphic Bridget Riley went under the hammer. All had been donated for the event by the artists. Terence Koh and Michael Stripe’s specially commissioned piece - bronze replica cassettes in paint and silver leaf - went to Jack Peñate for £1,500. ‘Art and music are a perfect combination,’ he said. ‘My family are all artists, I’m the only one who is a musician because I’m too emotional’. While Paul McCarthy’s Coppermeal no 5 went to Jefferson Hack for £1,400. ‘I wanted the Christian Marclay piece too [an electric guitar from performance video Solo signed by the artist], but it was too much to carry,’ he joked.
Music played on all night with DJ duo The Broken Hearts playing ‘I’m With The Girls’ by Sizzla, and David Dorrell spinning soul tunes. What a party! And to top it off the gallery raised £75,000 for their education and community programme.
Click here to see pictures from the party
By Claire Matthiae and Natalie Evans-Harding
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