NEW YORK CITY – On the evening of Valentine’s Day, over $40 million was raised to fight AIDS in Africa in an historic auction — the most significant charity auction of Contemporary Art ever — organized by Bono, Damien Hirst, Sotheby’s, Gagosian Gallery and dozens of donating artists in the (RED) Auction. The proceeds will go the United Nations Foundation to support HIV/AIDS relief programs in Africa conducted by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Bono opened the auction with an a capella rendition of “All You Need Is Love” before a star-studded crowd, including Queen Noor, John McEnroe, Takashi Murakami, Martha Stewart, Dennis Hopper, Michael Stipe, Helena Christensen, Liya Kebede, Russell Simmons, Brian Williams, Ziyi Zhang, Ed Burns and Christy Turlington.

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The Island Shangri La Hotel was the site of the Acker, Merrall & Condit wine auction, and one of the main reasons I came to Hong Kong. Editors Note- My oldest nephew, John Kapon, runs the AMC Auction Company. Early in 2008, Hong Kong abolished its 40% duty on wine and subsequently saw a 78% increase in volume with a 215% increase in wine values. The room was packed with Chinese and foreign bidders, and received tons of press coverage. The auction brought record prices for: a case of 1982 Le Pin- $106,000 USD; a Jeroboam (3 liters) of Dom Pérignon Rose 1996- $31,600 USD; 6 Magnums of Château Mouton Rothschild 1945- $167,4566 USD and a case of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 1990- $242,300. AMC donated the buyer’s premium ($42,000) to Habitat For Humanity, which is rebuilding houses destroyed by the recent China earthquake. The 926 lots fetched $8.2 million, considerably above the pre-auction estimate and were 92% sold.

The post auction BYOB dinner was at Cru Wine & Grill in the SOHO section of town. On a Saturday night the narrow streets are packed with people filling the many bars and restaurants. Think Havana in the ’50′s and early ’60′s; today’s South Beach, Florida and NYC’s Meatpacking District. Now, close your eyes and you could be anywhere in the world. It is a melting pot of languages, cultures and people.

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