Column: Austin Bell releases photo book of all 2549 Basketball Courts in Hong Kong

{Photos Courtesy of Austin Bell}

All throughout the world, there are millions of beautiful and awe-inspiring sights. From breathtaking landscapes to fascinating monuments rich with history, there is a wonderful place for everyone. Austin Bell, a well-traveled writer, photographer, and artist, aims to show us a peek into one such place with his new book Shooting Hoops. Following Bell’s ventures through the various artfully abstract basketball courts of Hong Kong, Shooting Hoops portrays a side of Hong Kong many are unaware of. Known for the lively nightlife, shopping districts, natural beauty, and rich culture, Hong Kong is also plentiful with beautiful artistry and raw talent. Bell showcases this unfiltered artistry with Shooting Hoops, composed of all 2,549 painted basketball courts throughout Hong Kong. 

I have known Bell my whole life, an eccentric artist always chasing his next adventure. From a young age, I would always hear about his new venture in a foreign place, of course photographing everything as he went. Throughout his career, Bell has photographed a plethora of beautifully fascinating places, making them all easily accessible for us to see. From intriguing wildlife shots of birds, aerial birds-eye views of coastlines, and now, abstract artscapes of the basketball courts of Hong Kong, Bell aims to share his adventures and the beauties the world has to offer that many might be unaware of.

What exactly is so special about the basketball courts in Hong Kong? Many foreigners aren’t privy to the hidden artistry in the metropolitan areas. Talented street artists take to the streets of the city to create abstract works. From murals to landscapes to portraits, these unknown artists add a little creative charm to everyday life in Hong Kong, 

The basketball courts throughout Hong Kong are a commonplace for the people living in the city. On their way to work or to grab a bite for lunch, they wouldn’t take a second glance at the courts. By showcasing a seemingly average yet beautifully niche side of Hong Kong, an already heavily photographed city, Bell opens our eyes to a side of the world many would never know about. With Shooting Hoops, Bell finds beauty in the mundane and shares it with us. If you’re interested in exploring this hidden artistic side of Hong Kong, visit Bell’s website or the Blue Lotus Gallery.