Labubu creator Kasing Lung on his bespoke cover art for Tatler Hong Kong

Titled Growing Up, the illustration depicts the mischievous Nordic elf floating in a lively scene of colourful clouds, stars and other contemporary shapes. Despite its cheery disposition, the colour blocking carries a deeper meaning for Lung: it is intended to reflect the growth, trials and tribulations Labubu has experienced over the years. “Because it is the tenth anniversary of The Monsters, I wanted this artwork to represent my growth from the first to the tenth year,” Lung tells Tatler. “It stars Labubu because I feel she has grown up quite a bit—and my understanding of her has changed too.”

Emblazoned across Lung’s bespoke Tatler Hong Kong cover artwork are the words: “Bu-tiful Dreams”. More than just a tongue-in-cheek nod to the global sensation that is his toothy monster, the title of this issue touches on a defining theme in Lung’s story—his enduring self-belief in following through on a singular creative vision. In a world bound by rules and opinions, the sentiment behind the cover title echoes Lung’s advice to other Asian creatives hoping to make an international impact: “Do things that others haven’t done before—try to make breakthroughs beyond established frameworks,” he says. “If you are loyal to creation, you should be true to yourself.”