Known as the “Godfather of designer Toy”, Michael Lau Kin-man (b.1970) is an acclaimed Hong Kong artist born in the 1970s when the city was at the peak of industrialisation and exported various kinds of toys to leading chain stores around the world. Every toy was a rare treasure to young Michael and played a key role in his childhood. His growing passion for toys eventually led him to a career in toy design where he conceived as a form of art.
After graduating from the First Institute of Art and Design in Hong Kong in 1992, Michael held his first solo painting exhibition at the Pao Galleries of the Hong Kong Arts Centre in the following year. In 1999, the prolific graphic designer lent his creativity to action figure design and created the “Gardener” series that juxtaposed his favourite G.I. Joe action figures and street culture. A total of 99 12-inch action figures were featured in his solo exhibition held at the Hong Kong Arts Centre. His passion for figure creation and remarkable achievements garnered global attention and brought him the opportunity to showcase his works in different cities in Japan, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Taipei, London and Paris, leading the global trend of collectible designer toys as an independent designer.