Labubu’s growth from books to cultural viral doll craze shown in Hong Kong exhibition

A decade ago, the publication of three picture books – Lung Ka-sing’s “The Monsters Trilogy” – brought Labubu into the world. Today, a new exhibition is celebrating the illustrator and toy designer’s elfen characters.

Reflecting on the past decade, Lung tells the Post: “For me, the most important evolution is the gradual expansion of [The Monsters] universe. But one thing has never changed from the very beginning: the joy of creation. It sounds basic, but it’s the most crucial thing.”

Hong Kong is the touring exhibition’s third stop after Shanghai and Taipei, and Lung says that he and the team chose to hold the exhibition at the Asia Society because its unique blend of Eastern and Western vibes and architecture is “a perfect match for Hong Kong”.

“I hope everyone can find a positive takeaway from the stories around them, something that sticks and helps move their day forward.”

Divided into five distinct zones, the exhibition is structured in reverse chronological order, guiding visitors from Lung’s most recent works to the picture books of 10 years ago.