Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook and American artist Helen Pashgian were honored at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)’s 11th annual Art+Film Gala on Nov. 5 that featured a performance by Elton John.
More than 650 guests attended the gala, co-chaired by Eva Chow and Leonardo DiCaprio, which raised more than $1.5 million to support LACMA's efforts to make film more central to the museum's curatorial programming and its broader mission.
"I'm thrilled that this year's Art+Film Gala was such a great success. 'The tributes to our honorees were powerful and heartwarming, and it was a pleasure to celebrate them with friends from around the world. And Elton John's iconic performance was an amazing way to end the evening," said Chow.
"It was a pleasure to recognize the achievements of Helen Pashgian and Park Chan-wook, two masterful artists whose work has expanded the ways we experience art and storytelling," said Michael Govan, LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg, director. "The Art+Film gala brings together so many artists of all kinds and so many people that want to celebrate art and film, and I deeply appreciate the dedication of our longtime co-chairs Eva Chow and Leonardo DiCaprio to this event and to the museum."
Park Chan-wook was introduced by “Squid Game” star Lee Byung-hun. His film “Decision to Leave” won him the Cannes best director award. “Oldboy,” a film he directed, won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.
He produced the 2013 film “Snowpiercer” and helmed the 2018 TV series “The Little Drummer Girl.” He won a BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language in 2018.
At the gala, “Squid Game” star Lee Byung-hun introduced Park Chan-wook, who he called “my dear old boy” in tribute to his film.
“I have been making the movies I want to see as a man who is Korean to the bone. As such, I firmly believe that all of us in the world of art are connected beyond the medium, nation and time. Reflecting back on all these great artists, I am again a humbled Korean and I cannot help but express other reverence to every artist in every country across all ages,” said Park Chan-wook.
After dinner, Idris Elba invited guests back outside where Salma Hayek Pinault introduced Elton John, who performed "Your Song," "Tiny Dancer," "Rocket Man," "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," and "I'm Still Standing."
Celebrities who attended the 2022 Art+Film Gala included BLACKPINK’s Rosé, Zo In-sung, Jang Dong-gun, Kim Min-jung, Park Hae-il, Princess Alia AI-Senussi, Joan Allen, Alessandra Ambrosio, Jeffrey Azoff, Elizabeth Banks, Larry Berg, Sofia Boutella, Adrien Brody, Quinta Brunson, Diego Calva, Christine Chiu, Scott Cooper, David Dobrik, Taran Egerton, David Eun, Mark Foster, Andrew Garfield, Jami Gertz, Kathryn Hahn, Laura Harrier, Kathy and Rick Hilton, Paris Hilton, Dev Hynes, Robert lger, Rian Johnson, Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Greg Kinnear, Ximena Lamadrid, Jude Law, Li Jun Li, Simu Liu, Julian Morris, Sandra Oh, Sean Penn, Addison Rae, Molly Ringwald, Vito Schnabel, Sebastian Stan, Sydney Sweeney, president of Audi of America Daniel Weissland, member of the board of management of Audi AG Hildegard Wortmann, Yoshiki and Chloe Zhao.
Figures from the art world who attended the gala included Tanya Aguiniga, Louise Bonnet, 2017 Art+Film Gala honoree Mark Bradford, Johanna Burton, George Clinton, Tacita Dean, Victoria Fu, Charles Gaines, Todd Gray, Lauren Halsey, Channing Hansen, Janna Ireland, Alex Israel, Sandra Jackson-Dumont, Shio Kusaka, Michael Maltzan, Yassi Mazandi, Rashaad Newsome, Alex Olson, 2018 Art+Film Gala honoree Catherine Opie, Ruben Ortiz-Torres, Alex Prager, Calida Rawles, Alison Saar, 2019 Art+Film Gala honoree Betye Saar, Cameron Shaw, Shinique Smith, Jacqueline Stewart, Martine Syms, Jordan Wolfson, Jonas Wood, Kulapat Yantrasast, Dustin Yellin and Peter Zumthor.