At times the first thing that conveys emotion is not the mouth, but the eyes.
Recently, passing the agnès b. store, I kept being drawn to the toys and large posters outside, all the work of artist Jessica Ng. The character Estelle combines childlike innocence with a faint darkness, as if existing slightly outside reality. Watching her, you begin to wonder whether you are looking at her, or she is looking at you.
Her pupils are especially arresting: dark, hollow, and impossible to look away from, like a portal to another world that quietly pulls viewers into a space that is both pure and shadowed.
Those silent eyes seem to hold a thousand unspoken words, but what are they trying to tell us?
Who is Estelle?
In recent years, an IP boom has introduced the public to countless original characters, and Hong Kong brand How2work has played a notable role in that trend. That is how Jessica Ng, an avid art toy collector, connected with the brand and, by chance, began collaborating with others.
Ngs distinct painting style rose quickly on Instagram, and she launched the personal label jb0xtchi as her art reached a global audience. In March, Ng made her first collaboration with Sport b., the youth line of French fashion label agn E8s b., and the Ka i Tak store included a limited mini exhibition showing her canvases, sketches, and a wall piece she painted for the opening.
Ng describes her creative process as something that happens as naturally as breathing. “I have always liked drawing female characters and creatures that are cute or slightly strange, and Estelle is one girl who kept appearing in my mind and my work,” she said.
The characters seem to have their own lives and appear at the right moments in her sketchbook. Over time, the girl was repeatedly drawn and remembered until she earned a name, Estelle.
Ng explained, “I named her Estelle because the name means star. When I draw Estelle I always include a lot of small stars. I imagined she experiences the world through stars, which felt a little magical, so I gave her a name. Other characters do not all have names yet, but when I have to define them I name them.”
“Most of the time I paint from the subconscious, and the meaning becomes clear when I look back and reflect. By the time I notice, those elements have already become part of the work and part of the story,” she said.
Gray hair, dark pupils, the windows to the soul
Ngs character design hides thoughtful details, especially Estelles signature gray hair and inky eyes.
“Estelle has had gray hair from the start,” Ng said. “The inspiration came from stars in the sky. Although stars are usually yellow or gold, from a distance they can look silver or pale white, so that became her hair color.”
Her mysterious eyes are not merely dark; they seem to swallow light and verge on blank, hiding any obvious emotional cues and leaving no clear outlet. The effect is memorable.
“The unusually dark eyes feel like they will pull you in. They show that she is an observer, a bystander. She is good at absorbing things, which is why her gaze looks empty,” Ng said.
Ng said she noticed that in many artworks the eyes carry strong expression, and she wanted to challenge herself to create something emotionally rich without relying on expressive eyes. “So I made everything dark,” she said, thoughtfully.
Because of that choice, Estelles dark pupils do not rush to explain anything. She simply watches, watching you and the world. That restraint lets the character express feeling while keeping an air of mystery.
“I do not see black as an obstacle to overcome. It is an aspect that can be reinterpreted and made special. Adding a touch of color next to black makes the black stand out more. I have always thought black is a color everyone needs. Bright colors are actually harder to handle. For me black represents comfort and balance, and it makes me feel safe,” she said.
The mysterious rabbit mask
When talking about mystery, it is hard not to mention the rabbit mask.
“Masks are interesting, right?” Ng said with a laugh. “I think everyone wears many masks in life. You have different attitudes toward different people, and people know different sides of you, especially before you really get to know someone. That is how I think about masks.”
She went on to explain, “For Estelle, the world around her is not entirely human. The mask helps her connect with various creatures. It helps them feel less afraid and more comfortable. The mask is like a small barrier that keeps her at a safe distance until she feels ready to take it off and connect more deeply.”
The mask is not meant to push others away. It is a gentle protective device. That feeling is like certain moments in our lives when we grow quiet in a crowd, step back for a moment, and choose to watch from a distance until we are ready to engage. That is Estelles way of being herself without being the same self all the time.
“It is not about pretending. It is a protection mechanism. I chose a rabbit because rabbits symbolize innocence and purity, and they also represent transformation and caution. There is no malice in it,” she said.
Fashion and art come together Sport b. x Jessica Ng collaboration
The storytelling evident in the details is not a passing whim, and Ng did not expect to translate her work into fashion. Before becoming a full time artist, she studied fashion design at the University of New South Wales and TAFE NSW, and briefly worked in the fashion industry. She said the nine to five schedule was difficult and the creative constraints felt limiting.
Art offered her greater flexibility and freedom. “I can work at any time I want, so I usually create late at night. I can work as long as I want, even 18 hours if needed. But freedom means no guide and no standard, and it is easy to get distracted, so staying focused is not easy,” she said.
Before the collaboration, Ng studied Dino, the Sport b. mascot, and found that Dinos world fit well with Estelles. The partnership also introduced a new friend printed on a large poster outside the store a pink haired polka dot girl called Cotton Candy. “I wanted to present the feeling of children meeting at school for the first time and becoming friends without any agenda, a pure and sincere friendship,” she said.
Ng said the characters introduce each other, meet friends, and go on small adventures together. That is the atmosphere she wanted to convey, her vision of art and fashion woven together.
After Estelle met Sport b.s Dino, Ng created a playful collection that includes short, hooded sweatshirts, printed casual shirts, polo dresses, and streetwear staples, along with beanies, baseball caps, and tote bags. Childhood memories and a sense of magic appear as refined prints and embroidery across the Sport b. pieces to add a fairytale touch to everyday wear.
“I am really excited to have my own clothing line. Toys are cool, but what I look forward to most is seeing the clothes released and worn. The beanie is especially cute, and I would love a black version,” Ng said.
Fairy tale versus reality
“I think few people can resist cute things. I love things that make the heart flutter, but deep inside I also have a touch of darkness and maturity that I quietly mix into the cute,” Ng said.
Watching Estelle and a cast of unnamed characters and creatures build a mysterious universe, Ng said Estelle is like her but not the same as her.
Estelle first appeared in her work in 2019. Ngs work is often described as a unique blend of innocence, darkness, and loneliness, a style tied to her view of fairy tales and reality.
As a self taught artist, Ng draws influence from James Jean, Henri Martin, and Yukon Higuchi, and is fascinated by the tension of color, technique, and composition. Though she did not have formal artistic training as a child and her family was not interested in art, fairy tales and pop up books opened the door to her imagination. Stories such as The Pied Piper, The Little Prince, and Hansel and Gretel are, in her view, not simply pleasant tales but complex narratives with warnings and multiple meanings.
Ng loves cute elements but always weaves in a hint of darkness and maturity to add depth. She draws inspiration from dreams, reading, and daily observation, reconstructing alternate versions of reality with her brush.
The similarities between Ng and Estelle show up more in temperament than in literal biography. Both are quiet and reserved, not actively seeking friendship but cherishing relationships once they form. Estelle is a door into the artists inner imagination, revisiting old scenes and exploring new worlds. Traits such as watching others and keeping distance before getting close reflect Ngs own disposition.
She said she enjoys solitude. As the youngest child, often watching others and frequently sick and staying indoors, she learned to entertain herself. Solitude became a constant companion and darkness a silent guardian, making her creative world quiet and distant, a small self protective universe that reflects an introverted and sensitive personality.
As Ng put it, creation is a form of communication beyond language. “Whether intentional or not, when I reflect on my work these concepts show through in subtle and obvious details,” she said.
“I want to remember the carefree feeling of childhood, before the burdens of life, with always a warm refuge behind you. Perhaps because we cannot return to that reality, I keep imagining different possibilities in my work. I hope these images let people briefly step away, reset, and face the next day with more strength.”
Executive Producer: Angus Mok
Producer: Mimi Kong
Interview and Editor: Louyi Wong
Videography: Alvin Kong
Video Editor: Alvin Kong
Photography: Kin Wai
Sport b. x Jessica Ng collaboration and mini exhibition
Date: March 28 to April 12, 2026
Location: The Twins, Tower II, Kai Tak, Kowloon, Hong Kong (Kai Tak is a redeveloped area in Kowloon) Shop 117 to 124, First Floor, Tower II, The Twins, Kai Tak
The exhibition displays Ngs oil paintings and sketches, and features a life size model of Estelle about 4 feet 7 inches tall for visitors to photograph. Limited edition Estelle Daydreamer vinyl figurines will be sold, featuring the collections signature polo dress design.
For more information visit: https://www.agnesb.com.hk/hk