Week 2 – Narrative Craft& Labubu & BJD Design & Resin
The topic discussed this week was the concept of “Narrative Craft.” In the seminar, I chose “Labubu” as my case study for exploring “Narrative Craft”, and conducted an in-depth analysis of my preferred material – “resin”.
- Case Study: Kasing Lung，“Storytelling Through Enchanting Monsters”
As the designer of the currently universally popular art toy – Labubu, The Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung masterfully blends narrative and art through his beloved Labubu universe. He is a former children’s book illustrator and winner of the prestigious Bratislava Illustration Biennale, Lung imbues each character—like the mischievous Labubu or timid Tycoco—with a unique personality and backstory.
His sculptures and toys are not mere objects; they are tangible portals into a fantastical world of friendly monsters. Their expressive gestures and detailed settings suggest untold adventures, inviting collectors to imagine their own stories. This deep narrative layer, drawn from Lung’s illustrative roots, transforms his work into collectible tales, fostering a passionate global community that connects with the characters’ emotions and whimsical lore.
- Resin BJD Design: “The Memory Keeper”
For this project, I designed a resin BJD doll that embodies my ongoing dialogue with memory and identity. Resin, with its translucent yet fragile quality, symbolizes the way memories shape but also scar us over time. The doll’s removable layers of clothing and interchangeable facial plates represent shifting identities and emotional states, while visible seams and joint lines reveal the vulnerability beneath the surface. Inspired by experiences and cultural expectations from both childhood and adulthood , this piece becomes more than a figure to me — it’s a storytelling vessel exploring how personal history, resilience, and transformation coexist. Sketches show the evolution from inner memory fragments to a tangible, expressive form. It is not merely a toy but a posable narrative sculpture that allows complex stories to unfold through form and movement.
This resin BJD sketch explores my experience as an asexual person, wearing masks in society and performing the “normal” heterosexual female role expected by both social and family norms. After engaging with Buddhist teachings, my mindset shifted significantly. The act of tonsure symbolizes Buddhism and, to some extent, asexuality. The mask is deliberately inspired by the makeup of Qin Xianglian, a “perfect woman” character from Chinese Peking opera, reflecting a performative role under a patriarchal society — the virtuous wife and obedient mother. The doll’s movable joints represent the fluidity of identity, allowing it to sit in meditation, work, or lie down.
- Narrative Matrix of Resin :
