Forget sleek and polished—Hangzhou’s latest exhibition revels in the charm of the delightfully odd. Spread across a 600-square-meter gallery, over a hundred “ugly treasures” showcase the wild creativity behind each quirky piece, from grinning cat-face pillows to oversized “Hulk” slippers and eccentric footwear.  

The phenomenon began online in 2020 as the “Ugly Things” contest, where millions of netizens shared bizarre finds and bonded over their love for the unconventional. Year after year, the viral event dominated social media, turning niche oddities into sensations. Now, for the first time, it leaps from screens into physical space.  

The exhibition unfolds in three parts—tracing the contest’s origins, revisiting past highlights, and presenting this year’s best—alongside a special section exploring the cultural buzz around these whimsical objects. Each display challenges traditional beauty standards, inviting visitors to embrace the untamed joy of playful design.  

By reframing “ugly” as an artistic perspective, the show encourages us to let go of perfection and celebrate creativity that defies convention.