Michael Lau | MAXX HEADROOM

Woaw Gallery is pleased to present MAXX HEADROOM:
A collaboration with renowned Hong Kong-based artist Michael Lau, also known as the “Godfather of Designer Toy”, the solo exhibition will feature a series of original new paintings and sculptures from the artist’s signature Gardener Series, showcasing an important part of the artist’s career over the last three decades.
Delving into Maxx, the hero character of Lau’s original 1999 Gardener series, MAXX HEADROOM explores the concept of youth, passion and perseverance. Through a selection of original and new works, the exhibition reflects the artist’s own journey through the character of Maxx as an epitome of the artist himself, a strong headed youth who would give all for his passion. From the first Gardener logo, sketches, comics, and album cover made in 1998, to remnants of its pivotal moments, as well as the artist’s recent Maxx paintings and sculptures, audiences are invited to enter the evolving journey of Gardener and the artists’ unwavering psyche.

About Michael Lau:
Known as the “Godfather of Designer Toys”, Michael Lau Kin-man (b.1970) is an acclaimed Hong Kong artist born in the 1970s when the city was at the peak of industrialization 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 it 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, Lau merged his creativity and passion in art, toy and action figures and created the “Gardener” series that juxtaposed his favorite G.I. Joe action figures and street culture. A total of 99 12-inch action figures was featured in his solo exhibition held at the Hong Kong Arts Centre. His unique artistic expression in action figures 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 artist.
While being recognized as the pioneer who launched the trend in the 90s as featured in the article “20 Trends Sweeping the Globe” by Forbes Magazine (January 2008), more recently, Lau has held exhibitions of his paintings and sculptures at leading galleries and institutions such as Levy Gorvy and Christie’s, to actively promote his creative vision – “All Art are Toys, All Toys are Art.”.