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The toy known as Labubu has taken over the global market in recent years. However, its story actually began ten years ago. In 2015, an artist named Kasing Lung published a picture book series called THE MONSTERS. This series starred a group of quirky characters who were very different from standard toys. One of these characters was a scruffy elf with big teeth and massive eyes. This specific character was inspired by old stories from Nordic folklore. Today, this same character is a huge part of pop culture everywhere. In celebration of its 10th anniversary, an art exhibition opened in Hong Kong. The show looked back at the artsy beginnings of Labubu. It also showed the many different kinds of art and designs it has inspired across different media around the globe.
The show is titled MONSTERS BY MONSTERS: NOW AND THEN. It opened at The Asia Society in Hong Kong. This event happened after successful runs in other cities like Shanghai and Taipei. The title refers to two big ideas. First, it refers to how the character has changed since it first began. Second, it refers to how people see the character all around the world. The show leaned into the fantasy aspect of Labubu. It turned the entire venue into a whimsical environment. The space was filled with several different versions of these creatures. Visitors felt like they had stepped inside a storybook world.
The exhibit also served as a journey through the artist's creative process. Kasing Lung has shared that creating new characters always begins with sketching. He said that drawing is part of his favorite element, which is storytelling. The exhibit devoted entire halls to the ink drawings that helped Lung build the lore. These drawings also built the specific look and feel of Labubu. These black-and-white sketches escaped their frames. They covered the walls and pathways as oversized illustrations. This design added to the immersive nature of the exhibition. Visitors felt surrounded by the art instead of just looking at it from a distance.