Published : 2025-06-07
Labubu, now one of the most popular toys under POP MART, has taken the world by storm. Recently, a series of Labubu sculptures, a set of three, was sold at Sotheby's for HKD 203,200.
Who is the "Father of Labubu"? It's Kasing Lung (龍家昇), an artist born in Hong Kong. What is the story behind his creation of Labubu? What's his plan for the future of this little monster toy that's already a global sensation?
Inspiration for Labubu comes from life
Kasing Lung was born in Hong Kong and emigrated to the Netherlands with his family at the age of seven. "I was very reluctant at the time."
Upon first arriving, Kasing Lung's Dutch was very poor, so his school teacher gave him many picture books to teach him simple Dutch.
The more he drew, the more Kasing Lung fell in love with drawing.
His parents ran a restaurant, with their home above it. To avoid disturbing his parents and the customers during the day, he would quietly read and draw in his room.
Examining Lung's drafts, it's not hard to find many of his childhood life experiences in them.
He was most exposed to Nordic elf picture books, which shows similarities in his later works. Like the Smurfs, Labubu is an elf living in the forest.
The inspiration for Labubu comes from Kasing Lung's own life, mischievous but inherently kind and brave. "Some things I wanted to do but didn't dare to do, I let Labubu do."
At the same time, Labubu is also a blend of East and West. Lung incorporated elements of Chinese folklore spirits and monsters into his designs and infused them with modern trendy toy fashion.
Kasing Lung hopes to continue creating stories
Interestingly, Labubu is one of the characters in Kasing Lung's The Monsters series, which includes nine characters, each with a unique background and personality.
Besides Labubu, Zimomo and Mokoko are also very popular, but are often mistaken for Labubu. This is because the three characters look very similar.
To differentiate Mokoko, it has a heart-shaped nose; and to distinguish Zimomo, the clue is that it has a tail while Labubu does not.
Labubu's success brought Kasing Lung fame and fortune. However, he actually hopes to have time to further expand the world of Labubu, not wanting it to lose its original story.
"Actually, I initially had many different characters, intending to release a book each year followed by products. I did not expect Labubu to become so popular."
Although the pace of picture book creation has slowed, he always believes that Labubu is not just a toy but a character with a story. His creative career always revolves around the original intention of "telling stories."
Kasing Lung aims to release a new picture book featuring Labubu as the main character this year or next, which is expected to thrill countless fans. Labubu, carrying his creativity and dreams, will continue to adventure in the forest and the real world.
Drawing was originally a small hobby that accompanied Kasing Lung while adapting to a new environment in his childhood. But by adding innovative elements to his creations, Labubu has become a new trendy favourite in the city, opening up a new world for himself.
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