Mr Soilworm LAI Yee-hung
Paper Artists
Design graduates
Mr Mic LEONG Tsz-ching
Paper Artists
Design graduates
A thin sheet of paper, casually picked up by STICKYLINE, can always be folded into a thick, three-dimensional work of art. Mr Soilworm Lai Yee-hung and Mr Mic Leong Tsz-ching, two graduates from the School of Design at PolyU, form this duo of paper art creators who bring imaginative visions to life under their playful name, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. Their recent masterpiece, the giant tree sculpture “The Fractal Forest” in the Art Garden adjacent to The Henderson in Central, is a delightful collaboration with a secondary school student, establishing a vibrant green artistic landscape for this new landmark in Hong Kong.
From crafting a large-scale geometric conch sculpture by the seaside to convey ecological conservation messages, to confronting fears with oversized “cockroaches”, and presenting a land of fantasy with a 6-metre-tall Christmas tree made of 2,000 hand-folded candy pieces – STICKYLINE’s creations go far beyond mere accessories, lights, and toys. Using paper as their primary medium and employing folding techniques of origami, they elevate their art to new heights. Their works resemble 3D puzzles that ingeniously combine various materials through deconstruction and reconstruction, turning flat surfaces into captivating three-dimensional forms and magnifying a series of fanciful ideas in our everyday surroundings.
STICKYLINE’s design prowess is deeply rooted in their past training. Soilworm and Mic met at PolyU, where they honed their skills in creating impactful installations that showcase a strong sense of spatial awareness, design thinking, and problem solving. After graduation, one ventured into packaging design while the other explored the world of toy design. So, when did they start their adventure as a duo? “In 2011, encouraged by our alma mater to participate in the “Design Mart”, we whimsically designed a series of paper helmets shaped like iconic Hong Kong buildings, which quickly captured the public’s imagination and became a sensation in just a few days!” Since then, Soilworm and Mic have joined forces to explore the endless possibilities of creative engineering, mathematics, and geometric structural complexity, officially embarking on an exciting journey of distinctive, large-scale polyhedral sculptures. This pivotal step marked the beginning of their dreams taking flight, much like the airplane sculpture they created for the “PolyU Dream Exhibition” a few years after they teamed up.
STICKYLINE has consistently demonstrated what it means to engage in “limitless cross-disciplinary creation”. Beyond exhibitions, they have designed concert costumes, transformed installations into brand window displays, and showcased their three-dimensional kingdom at venues like the Sea World Culture and Arts Center in Shenzhen, International Design Festival Berlin, and Milan Design Week. Their creations are nothing short of exuberant madness, drawing inspiration from the vibrant tapestry of everyday life. “Living in this city, what we see and experience allows us to highlight seemingly ordinary elements of life from different perspectives in our projects. For us, encountering many interesting people in our work is a joyful experience; and being able to share our creations with everyone is a source of strength to keep moving forward,” the duo shared.
Soilworm and Mic’s success is a significant affirmation of creativity and practical implementation. As a fresh force in the creative industry, they turn each piece into a bridge for dialogue with the world through their expertise, conveying boundless courage to break limitations! Are you also crafting your own rhapsody, waiting for the day when its notes will finally rise into the air?
STICKYLINE’s online showcase: https://www.stickyline.hk/project
Living in this city, what we see and experience allows us to highlight seemingly ordinary elements of life from different perspectives in our projects.
Publishing date: June 2025
