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The toy known as Labubu has recently captured the global market, becoming a defining symbol in modern pop culture. However, the origin of this cultural phenomenon is rooted in a story that spans ten years. In 2015, the artist Kasing Lung introduced a picture book series titled THE MONSTERS. This series fundamentally challenged the standard aesthetics of mainstream toys. It featured a group of eccentric characters that diverged sharply from typical commercial designs. Among these figures stood a scruffy elf with massive eyes and prominent teeth. This design was directly inspired by ancient narratives found in Nordic folklore. Today, this specific character serves as a cornerstone of global popular culture. To mark the tenth anniversary of this creation, a comprehensive art exhibition was inaugurated in Hong Kong. This showcase meticulously traced the artist's whimsical origins while simultaneously displaying the myriad forms of art and design that the character has inspired across various media and continents.
The exhibition, officially titled MONSTERS BY MONSTERS: NOW AND THEN, made its debut at The Asia Society in Hong Kong, following successful runs in Shanghai and Taipei. The title encapsulates two pivotal concepts: the evolutionary trajectory of the character since its inception and the diverse manner in which global audiences perceive and interpret the figure. The curatorial team leaned heavily into the fantasy elements inherent to Labubu, transforming the entire venue into a whimsical, immersive environment.
The space was populated with various iterations of these creatures, creating a setting where visitors felt they had stepped directly into a living storybook. The atmosphere was designed to transcend the boundaries of a traditional museum display, inviting guests to engage with the art on a visceral, emotional level. By removing the barrier between the observer and the observed, the exhibition allowed the fantasy world to feel immediate and real. Visitors were not merely looking at objects; they were stepping inside a narrative that had been unfolding for a decade.
Beyond the final exhibits, the show functioned as an in-depth exploration of the artist's creative methodology. Kasing Lung has frequently noted that the genesis of new characters invariably begins with the act of sketching. He posits that drawing is an intrinsic component of storytelling, serving as the bedrock of his artistic expression. Consequently, entire halls within the exhibition were dedicated to the ink drawings that facilitated the construction of the narrative lore surrounding the monsters. These foundational sketches not only established the specific visual language of Labubu but also defined its emotional resonance.