The pouty, lake-blue-eyed figurine that turned designer toys into a global obsession is celebrating two decades in Bangkok. Pop Mart Thailand, Chulalongkorn University Property Management and the Tourism Authority of Thailand have staged the Molly 20th Anniversary Exhibition under the banner 'The Little Galaxy – A Journey Through The Universe Of Time', running at Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park until October 25.
The character's origin story is a nice bit of trivia: artist Kenny Wong dreamt her up after meeting a young girl on Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. Pop Mart came on board in 2016 with an exclusive deal, and the first Zodiac Molly collection sold out almost instantly. Space Molly, Baby Molly and Royal Molly followed, cementing Molly as one of the most collected designer toys in the world.
What makes this show worth seeking out is the setting and the craft. It is semi-outdoor in a leafy park — a different experience from the usual gallery white-box — and traces the character from early sketches through personality development to her expansion across media. There are also reimaginings by artists from multiple cultures using everything from Sichuan embroidery and paper cutting to wax-resist textiles, silverwork, ceramics and lacquerwork.
The Thai contingent is a highlight. Phannapast 'Yoon' Taychamaythakool, Tawee Phansri and Chalermkiat Somdulyawat — the latter two selected by the Sustainable Arts and Crafts Institute of Thailand — have created works that link Molly to Thai art, history and local craft traditions. School and university groups can register in advance for free visits, part of a push to inspire students toward creative-industry careers.
There is a food-fuelled game built in too. Visitors can walk to nearby Banthat Thong Road, one of Bangkok's best-known street-eats strips, collecting stamps at participating restaurants as part of the Molly 20th Anniversary Stamp Collection. Finish the card, grab the last stamp at the pop-up store in the park, and you walk away with an exclusive commemorative postcard. Tickets are available via Trip.com's website or app.
If you are already in Bangkok and even mildly curious about the designer-toy craze, this is an easy, photogenic hour or two, with excellent food within strolling distance — and a decent excuse to see what all the Pop Mart fuss is about.
