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 hopes of promoting his philosophy that “all artworks are toys, all toys are art”, Lau recently returned to more traditional art forms, such as painting and sculpting, experimenting with new ideas that push his artistic boundaries.

Many artists love to move from place to place; Lau, however, opted to stay in his hometown. “Ever since Art Basel debuted in Hong Kong, exhibitions and galleries have become ubiquitous,” he says, adding that he is proud of how diverse the art scene has become. “Collectors of different ages and backgrounds are offered a plethora of options, ranging from traditional to contemporary to street art.”

The city inspires Lau every day. “One of the reasons why I love Hong Kong is that its charm can hardly be defined,” he says. “In art, one can mix the three primary colours to create infinite tones. Likewise, the melange of oriental traditions and innovations renders Hong Kong a vibrant, fertile land for artistic creations.”