Shooting Hoops: A Photographic Ode to Hong Kong’s Basketball Courts

Nestled between skyscrapers and housing estates, Hong Kong’s 2,549 basketball courts provide splashes of colour amidst a densely-packed urban landscape. They immediately caught the eye of American photographer Austin Bell when he first came here. While he had previously photographed basketball courts in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, among other places, he was particularly captivated by Hong Kong’s courts and how they are integral to the city’s social fabric. They are used for a multitude of purposes beyond basketball, generally built into schools and housing estates. Bell seized an opportunity to showcase a side of Hong Kong that might otherwise go unnoticed. 

His fascination led to Shooting Hoops, a book and exhibition at the Blue Lotus Gallery that showcases Hong Kong’s basketball courts through Bell’s unique photographic lens. Intrigued by his parents’ stories of the city’s vibrancy — they had travelled here in the 1990s — Bell first visited Hong Kong in 2017. Two years later, he returned with the goal of capturing every one of Hong Kong’s basketball courts. He managed to do that over four years, from 2019 to 2022, building a collection of approximately 40,000 photographs. From this vast archive, Bell selected 150 courts for a 356-page book, and 50 images for an exhibition at Blue Lotus.

Gallery founder Sarah Green notes that Bell’s efforts led him to nearly every corner of Hong Kong, from outlying islands to bustling tourist hubs. “What makes this playful project so compelling is that it not only highlights the diversity and sheer number of basketball courts but also offers a comprehensive portrayal of Hong Kong’s unique and varied topography,” she says. Bell first introduced the idea of Shooting Hoops at one of the artist meetups that Greene organises at Blue Lotus. “The group was really excited about it and I think their enthusiasm motivated Austin to further develop the concept,” she says.

A time capsule 

When we meet with Bell at the gallery, he is wearing a colourful t-shirt emblazoned with a mosaic of his basketball court images. (He has such an encyclopaedic knowledge of the courts that when he asks our writer which school he attended in Hong Kong, he is able to pull up a photo of its basketball court from his vast archive.) Bell tells us his goal was to create a “time capsule” of Hong Kong’s basketball courts, acknowledging that many of these spaces undergo constant change – some have been repainted or even removed since the publication of his book. He believes that in 10 years, his photography could serve as a valuable reference point to illustrate how these courts have evolved.

“I don’t know if there are many things that change faster in Hong Kong, topography wise, than basketball courts, just because they’re constantly refurbished,” he says. Bell notes that many of these refurbishments occur at schools, which strive to maintain an appealing and up-to-date image for prospective students. He also credits the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for its diligence in maintaining the courts, which experience significant wear and tear after every couple of years. 

This constant state of flux fuelled Bell’s fascination and dedication to the project. “So it’s very interesting to see that change – like, are they painting them in new colours? Are they going back to old colours? What decisions are they making with that?”

Beauty from above

Beyond these breathtaking photos, one might ponder: why choose aerial photography to represent all of the city’s basketball courts? “Basketball courts are one of the more interesting things you can shoot aerially,” says Bell, explaining that he initially experimented without a clear vision. After a trial-and-error approach, he decided to systematically photograph all the basketball courts from above to create a comprehensive collection. Inspired by German photographer Walter Koditek‘s book Hong Kong Modern Architecture of the 1950s-1970s, which documents modern building façades in the city, Bell aimed to capture images that people would not have seen before, especially from the unique angles achieved by using a drone. 

“One of the most jarringly different things from above versus on the ground is that they are so flat – they’ve got such an interesting geometric design that you can’t really appreciate on or from the ground,” he says. That’s especially true in a dense, vertical city like Hong Kong, where basketball courts are often hidden from view.

Urban life and community on the court

Through his explorations, Bell noted that the basketball courts in Hong Kong were different to those he captured in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. Not only are they especially numerous — he says Hong Kong likely has the largest number of outdoor basketball courts in the world — most of them are situated on school campuses.  He also says they are more visually appealing and well-maintained than the basketball courts he encountered in North America.

Another key difference noticed was that, unlike basketball courts in cities like New York, which are used almost exclusively for basketball, the courts in Hong Kong are settings for various activities. “Even if you go to a playground in the morning, you’ll see tai chi out there,” he says. “You know, I’ve seen everything from people hanging laundry to coral groups practising, to people walking their tortoises, to drying orange peels – anything that you would do outside in Hong Kong, you could do it on the basketball court here.”

According to Jeroen van Ameijde, assistant professor and director of the MSc Urban Design programme at the School of Architecture at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the period from the 1950s to the 1970s was pivotal in shaping Hong Kong’s urban landscape. “After the promotion of basketball and other sports such as football and volleyball by YMCA, [South China Athletic Association] and other organisations in the pre-war period, the Hong Kong government gradually introduced ‘sports for all’ programmes from the 1950s to the 1970s,” he explains.

To address the challenges of this period, such as overcrowding and the growth of squatter areas to accommodate an ever-growing population, the government began providing facilities like basketball courts to provide more opportunities for sport and recreation. Planning guidelines of Hong Kong’s New Towns from the 1970s onwards called for one basketball court per every 10,000 residents, among other facilities. Those planning principles are still being followed today: there are plans for 200 new courts in the Northern Metropolis and Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands, which are slated to be completed by 2045.

Social activities vs. social media

But will those courts be as well used as they are today? As technology continues to evolve, especially in fast-paced cities like in Hong Kong, are real-world activities like playing basketball overshadowed by social media and digital entertainment? Bell thinks the opposite may be true. “It seemed like courts were a lot more crowded post-pandemic than pre-pandemic,” he says, indicating a renewed interest in outdoor activities.

Bell emphasises the courts’ role as accessible gathering spaces that attract people whether they’re playing basketball or not. “[They are] always going to be an open, accessible spot for people, whether they are all hanging out on their phones or hanging out doing something analogue,” he says. Hong Kong’s density may make it more resistant to social isolation than other cities. “I’m sure kids don’t want to go home from school and sit in their tiny space where their grandmother lives there too,” he says. “And I can’t imagine that changing.”

Van Ameijde agrees. He also views the impact of technology on social activities in a generally positive light. “In my experience as an urban researcher, digital communication tools and social media do not really reduce people’s participation in the real world, but technologies do change and hybridise the way in which people navigate and enjoy cities,” he says. “Similar to how photogenic coffee shops can be trending on social media and cause an influx of visitors and economic development to certain urban districts, uniquely designed playgrounds and courts can attract visitors.”

But there can be a downside to social media, too. Van Ameijde points to Choi Hung Estate, which has drawn large crowds of visitors drawn by its rainbow-coloured buildings. “Large crowds of photo-taking visitors have impacted residents and basketball players,” he says. “Some players have opted to play elsewhere, while some residents enjoy the increased liveliness of the estate, or even have set up businesses to serve the visitors.”

A new perspective on Hong Kong

As his works have been on display at Blue Lotus, Bell has maintained an active presence at the gallery, enthusiastically engaging with visitors of all ages and connecting their neighbourhoods to the basketball courts he documented. He wants viewers to see another side of Hong Kong, hoping they can recognise these utilitarian spaces as integral to the city’s fabric.

“I think it’s a testament for finding something you love about the city,” he says. “This city is infinitely interesting, cool, and visual.” Ultimately, he aims to inspire others to embark on their own explorations and discover new facets of Hong Kong’s vibrant landscape. “I want people to find their own anchors to both display Hong Kong and explore it.”

Austin Bell: Shooting Hoops runs at Blue Lotus Gallery until Sunday, 23 February 2025. For more information, click here.

On Sunday, 16 February 2025 and starting from 14:00 onwards, the Blue Lotus Gallery will host a talk and Q&A session with Austin Bell.