A Million Reasons to Love Hong Kong

Artist Michael Lau, nicknamed the “Godfather of Toy Figures”, discusses the place of art in the city

Growing up in Hong Kong, “toys were like our friends,” says Michael Lau, who was the first artist to make collectible vinyl figurines, sparking a trend that has influenced major international artists such as Kaws and Takashi Murakami. “Other than being good company, toys provided us with emotional support,” he says. To the “Godfather of Toy Figures”, as Lau is known, inspiration can be found anywhere in Hong Kong. One of his go-to places for ideas is Tai Yuen Street in Wan Chai, where hyper-realistic action figures can be seen posing behind the shop windows of local toy stores. He also frequents Apliu Street in Sham Shui Po, where, he says, “there are many seemingly useless, miscellaneous objects that have the potential to form part of my artwork.” In the…

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Tatler Hong Kong (Digital) - 1 Issue, December 2020

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