Among the exhibition's characters are The Arrons, one of the few genuine childhood imaginary friends in the collection.

Created by a teenager and still very much alive in their imagination, The Arrons exist beyond memory. Their original drawing lives as a sticker on a laptop, and their creator dreams of one day turning their adventures into an animation. While many works in the exhibition reinterpret imagined companions through a contemporary lens, The Arrons arrive with authentic imaginary-friend credentials.

Tiny creatures who live inside your shoes and quietly repair your socks while you sleep.

Part household helper, part mischievous gremlin, the Sock Darners emerged from a contributor's endless collection of trickster characters. While many of those ideas were delightfully annoying, the image of small beings dedicated to the noble craft of sock repair simply refused to leave. Inspired in part by the gentle charm of a dumbo octopus, these industrious makers remind us that friendship sometimes looks like practical support.

A hero for the digital age.

Everyone has experienced the impossible ritual: plug in the USB cable, discover it's upside down, flip it over, discover it's somehow wrong again. USB Friend is dedicated to ending this struggle forever. Patient, observant and probably a little smug, they exist solely to guide cables into ports on the first attempt.

A very specific imaginary friend for a very specific generation.

A companion who gives hydrating hugs.

When one contributor supplied almost no description at all, an opportunity emerged to create the exhibition's most wholesome character. Inspired by the eternally cheerful axolotl, Hydration Friend appears whenever life feels dry, stressful or exhausting.

Soft, supportive and impossible not to smile at, they're the closest thing this exhibition has to a wellness coach.

Winter's most useful imaginary companion.

Sun Finder Giant spends their days searching for patches of sunlight and guiding people towards warmth, brightness and comfort. A giant optimist with exceptional solar-tracking abilities, they are a reminder that sometimes the best friendships help us notice small joys hiding in plain sight.

Part gardener, part philosopher, part local eccentric.

Indoor Plant Charmer helps houseplants thrive through encouragement, conversation and mysterious plant magic. But there's a catch: if you move house, they may become sad and shrink your plants in protest.

Drawing on the humour of garden gurus and spiritual mentors, this bittersweet companion speaks to themes of belonging, attachment and change. Beneath the comedy lies a gentle reflection on the uncertainty many people experience as they build a life far from where they began.

The friend who shortens impossible distances.

Created from a contributor's wish to visit ageing parents overseas without disrupting work, parenting and everyday responsibilities, Bridge Home Buddy exists in the space between longing and practicality.

Inspired by the warmth of a luckdragon and the agility of a flying dragon lizard, this companion carries people between homes, memories and generations. It is a character about migration, connection and the enduring pull of family.

A conversation coach disguised as a baby elephant.

Memory Helper whispers forgotten names, lost facts and excellent conversation starters through a trunk shaped like a vintage gramophone horn. Designed for anyone who has ever walked into a room and forgotten why, this friend transforms memory into something playful rather than frustrating.

A gentle reminder that everyone needs a little help sometimes.

Not every friend helps you navigate adulthood.

Some help you climb trees.

Conceived from a child's perspective, Lookout Tiger desperately wants to reach the highest branches but has one significant limitation: it needs human hands to help it climb. The image is equal parts ridiculous and wonderful, capturing the logic-defying brilliance that only children seem capable of producing.

Possibly the most delicious imaginary friend ever created.

Suggested by a tween contributor, Edible Cat combines a love of food, family culture and playful absurdity. Inspired by the Taiwanese Leopard Cat, this companion is covered in favourite foods and proudly celebrates the joy of eating.

The character also honours the creator's Taiwanese heritage, creating a heartfelt intersection between identity, comfort and imagination.