POP MART Brings Kasing Lung’s ‘THE MONSTERS’ 10th Anniversary Exhibition to Tokyo This June

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Summary

  • POP MART’s “MONSTERS BY MONSTERS: NOW AND THEN” opens at Azabudai Hills Gallery in Tokyo on June 11, running through July 5
  • The exhibition spans eight immersive areas including a world-premiere installation of “The Story of Puca,” rendered across five projection panels with three-dimensional surround sound, alongside original artwork, art toy displays, and a mirror room
  • The Tokyo stop marks the final destination of a global tour that began in Shanghai before travelling through Taipei, Hong Kong, and Paris, and will feature exclusive 10th anniversary merchandise available via lottery and first-come-first-served purchase

Labubu, originally featured in a small, limited-edition book, has become incredibly popular. Kasing Lung’s ‘THE MONSTERS’ started in 2015 as a trilogy with only a few hundred copies printed, and it uniquely built a fantastical world inspired by Nordic myths and classic European fairy tales. Now, to celebrate its 10th anniversary, POP MART is bringing an exhibition called “MONSTERS BY MONSTERS: NOW AND THEN” to Tokyo’s Azabudai Hills Gallery, running from June 11th to July 5th. This exhibition, which has already traveled to cities like Shanghai, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Paris, is the most comprehensive showcase of Kasing Lung’s imaginative world yet.

To truly appreciate this exhibition, it helps to know Kasing Lung’s personal story, as the artwork reflects his own life experiences as much as the fantastical characters he’s created. Originally from Hong Kong, Lung moved to the Netherlands as a child. Learning Dutch through illustrated books ignited a passion for storytelling and European fairy tales. This early exposure to Nordic folklore became the basis for his world, ‘THE MONSTERS,’ filled with creatures inspired by Nordic myths and brought to life with Lung’s unique artistic style. He gained early recognition in 2003 when his picture book, ‘Oki,’ won a European award, making him the first artist of Chinese heritage to achieve this. By 2011, he began creating art toys with Hong Kong’s HOW2WORK, and in 2015, ‘THE MONSTERS’ trilogy fully established the story and visual world that characters like Labubu now call home.

The Tokyo exhibition explores ten years of Shaun Tan’s work through eight captivating areas, each highlighting a different aspect of his creativity. A central attraction is “The Story of Puca,” a brand-new installation created by toito that brings the first part of Tan’s THE MONSTERS TRILOGY to life. Using five projection screens and immersive surround sound, it offers visitors a unique experience of this story. The original picture book was extremely rare, printed in only a few hundred copies, making this installation the first chance most people will have to encounter this material at all. This limited availability gives the installation special importance – it’s a world that’s truly never been shared with the public before.

The exhibition features seven distinct areas showcasing the full range of Lung’s work and his ten years of collaborations. The Art Toy Zone details the development of his iconic Labubu character, from its beginnings to recent collaborative designs, charting its visual evolution. The Painting and Sculpture Zone displays Lung’s paintings and sculptures, highlighting his move towards fine art. The Mirror Room uses reflections to create an immersive, seemingly endless space based on his THE MONSTERS series. The Plush House is a whimsical, highly photographable setting filled with Labubu plush toys created with POP MART. Visitors can explore the second part of the “Pato and the Girl” trilogy, which focuses on the theme of love, and the Creative Journey and Sketch Zone offers a detailed look at Lung and HOW2WORK’s ten-year creative partnership. The exhibition will also premiere original artwork, including pieces created specifically for the Tokyo showing.

The exhibition features collectible items that expand on its themes. Attendees can enter lotteries for a special 10th anniversary figure set and other anniversary accessories. A limited number of tote bags will be sold directly at the venue on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, a dedicated POP MART store located in the same building offers a wider range of anniversary merchandise and popular collectibles, and doesn’t require an exhibition ticket to visit.

The final stop on the tour in Tokyo is especially important. While each city added its unique cultural flavor to the show, Tokyo holds a special meaning because of Kasing Lung’s long history with Japan. His solo exhibitions there helped launch Labubu into the global spotlight. The Azabudai Hills Gallery, a stunning modern art space in Tokyo, is the perfect venue to showcase the show’s grand scale and ideas.

“MONSTERS BY MONSTERS: NOW AND THEN” opens June 11 and runs through July 5.

Azabudai Hills Gallery
Garden Plaza A MB Floor
Toranomon, Minato-ku
Tokyo

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2026-05-27 10:26