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Syrena Jin

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.
“Monsters by Monsters: Now and Then”, open to the public at the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre until January 4, features previously unreleased Labubu and Monster sketches and sculptures.
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.
The Journey and Paintings Zone provides a comprehensive timeline of The Monsters’ 10-year journey, detailing the partnership between Lung and Hong Kong toy company How2work, which started turning Lung’s illustrations into physical collectibles in 2011.
This was well before Lung signed a deal in 2019 for Labubu dolls to be sold exclusively by Chinese company Pop Mart, which turned the soft figurines into a worldwide craze.

The Designer Toys Zone displays an extensive collection of vinyl toys, arranged by colour, that show Labubu from its basic form to its many celebrated crossovers.
The Sketches Zone offers a glimpse into Lung’s raw inspiration and inner world. One table displays his sources of inspiration, ranging from Nordic folklore to films and music. Another shows a comparison between Pop Mart’s Labubu toys, now sold in blind boxes, and the original manuscripts.
The Interactive Zone features walls lined with Labubu dolls from the Pop Mart collaboration, while the Picture Books Zone presents The Monsters Trilogy, returning visitors to this magical universe’s artistic roots.

Lung was born in Hong Kong and spent part of his childhood in the city, studying at a local school for several years before he moved to the Netherlands with his family. He later returned to the city as a budding illustrator and designer, and he now splits his time between Hong Kong and Belgium.
“[Hong Kong is] a small city, but it fosters a natural and intimate connection between people – a feeling that grows even stronger when I’m living abroad,” Lung says.
Lung’s time in the Netherlands has helped to fuel his love for painting, ancient folklore and legends of elves across Europe. In 2003, he won first place in the European Picture Book Competition, becoming the first artist of Chinese origin to receive that honour.

In 2015, he released The Story of Puca, Pato and the Girl and Miro’s Requiem, which became the starting point of The Monsters. In 2017, Labubus featured in “De Kleuren Monsters”, an exhibition at Gallery by the Harbour, in Harbour City in Hong Kong.
“When I was building the world of The Monsters, this sense of connection from my homeland made it easier for me to immerse myself in the creative process: in this world of elves, there are many characters with different appearances and personalities, but they all interact and coexist in one shared world,” he says.
The Monsters are a group of little elves living in the Nordic forests. Among them are the Labubu, characterised by their fangs and pointed ears. Mischievous and curious about everything, they embark on a series of fantastical and joyful adventures together.

A key highlight of the exhibition is a large new oil painting with a Hong Kong backdrop created especially for the exhibition by Lung.
This follows Lung’s project with Hong Kong International Airport in September, “The Monsters x HKIA”, which saw five Labubu sculptures placed around the airport. The highlight was a seven-metre-tall (23-foot) King Mon installation in the departure hall.
Lung continues to deepen his engagement with the city. In March 2026, he will serve as the artistic director of Complexcon Hong Kong and participate in the event with The Monsters.
“Monsters by Monsters: Now and Then”, Asia Society Hong Kong Centre, 9 Justice Drive, Admiralty. Until January 4.


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Part of the “Interactive Zone” which is part of the MONSTERS BY MONSTERS: NOW AND THEN exhibition at the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre

An installation at the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre shows some of the hundreds of “Monsters” toys available, part of a special exhibition about Labubu and The Monster universe created by Lung Ka-sing. Photo: Syrena Jin

Lung Ka-sing is pictured at the “Monsters by Monsters: Now and Then” exhibition in Hong Kong. Photo: Asia Society

Some of Lung Ka-sing’s original sketches are included in the exhibition. Photo: Syrena Jin

Labubus line the walls of the exhibition’s “Interactive Zone”. Photo: Asia Society

Paintings and sculptures are displayed at the exhibition. Photo: Syrena Jin

A King Mon figure is displayed at the exhibition. Photo: Syrena Jin

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A touring exhibition celebrating Lung Ka-sing’s The Monsters, which birthed the popular Labubu, has come to Hong Kong


A touring exhibition celebrating Lung Ka-sing’s The Monsters, which birthed the popular Labubu, has come to Hong Kong.


Pop Mart

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

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}A touring exhibition celebrating Lung Ka-sing’s The Monsters, which birthed the popular Labubu, has come to Hong Kong

A touring exhibition celebrating Lung Ka-sing’s The Monsters, which birthed the popular Labubu, has come to Hong Kong