Which tennis centers will be participating?

Hong Kong’s legendary tennis professional, Tong Ka-po is taking the lead to spread awareness among tennis professionals, tennis lovers, tennis clubs, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and sports related media and supply companies. Private clubs and tennis centres like Victoria Park Tennis Court and the Hong Kong Tennis Centre are all onboard.

How do you hope this initiative will inspire others to get involved in sustainable practices?

After finishing a game of tennis, whether it is with friends or at a professional tournament, we often forget about the used tennis balls that were so instrumental to our enjoyment of the game. They indirectly give us positive energy—from the joy of winning an incredible point and friendly competition to friendship and bonding, good health, and a sense of achievement after a match.

My son, Alastair Louey, and his creative studio, Ren Studios, created hand-drawn animations to remind us to not only think of the action and results of recycling, but also to appreciate the impact these tennis balls have on our lives.

The film shows that by simply throwing balls into the Afterlife recycling bins, anyone can extend this invisible yet powerful energy into the next life. Our Afterlife tennis ball collection bins can contain to 700 to 800 balls each, and the balls will be distributed to many tennis locations throughout Hong Kong within the next two months. Any tennis lover can simply throw their used balls into our bins for our collection. Private clubs, the Hong Kong Tennis Association and major tournaments will directly supply us with the used tennis balls instead of throwing massive quantities away.

What other sporting goods do you have plans to recycle in the future?

Major sporting goods companies have expressed their interest to collaborate with us. For example, one company will break down our used balls into components and convert them into outsoles for children’s footwear.

Can you tell us how the proceeds will be used to help the foundation’s missions?

The proceeds generated through Afterlife furniture sales will be used to support sports and recycling education in Hong Kong. We wish to increase consciousness among people in Hong Kong when it comes to the environment. We want to inspire people to live a healthier life while also contributing to sustainability. Recycling plastic is a no-brainer and something we should all be doing as responsible citizens.

Douglas Young

Douglas, most people don’t look at tennis balls and think “let’s make art!” What made you want to get involved with the Sports for Hope Foundation?

I’ve been involved with the Sports for Hope Foundation since the beginning. I actually designed their logo. I think it’s a very meaningful project because I never realised how wasteful tennis balls were. I am a tennis player myself, and I never realised you needed to fresh tennis balls for every game, according to Marie-Christine. So imagine the number of tennis balls that are discarded and go to landfill. This motivated me to want to do something about it.

Why furniture?

When I was approached for the project, I was told that I would have to create something with tennis balls. I was told to recycle them or upcycle them but, at first, I didn’t know what to do with them. I had to play with them, sleep on the idea, do some research online and let the idea ferment in my brain. My first thought was that since they were used tennis balls, they weren’t very clean and, therefore, I didn’t want to make clothing out of them or put them against my face. But, I think with furniture, there is suitable distance between you and the tennis balls. I was trained as an architect, so I know how to design furniture and I like using my hands. I like to make things. I started to play with the idea of furniture by stacking the balls and testing how to make them stable. I came up with these pieces and they seem to be self-generating because there is a certain logic to their construction.

At the end of the day, I like to have unique things in my home that are art pieces. Not necessarily the most practical, but those that are eye-catching and reflect my personality.

Can you take us through the creative process? How long does it take to produce one piece?

The creative process is not a straight path and I often hit dead ends. I often get creative blocks and need to do something else. It can be frustrating and tiring. It requires passion and energy and sometimes, there are pieces that just create themselves. Some pieces take a day to make and others require constant revision and can take a few days to finish. That’s the thing about the creative process: it’s very unpredictable, including the end result. I don’t stop until I get a result that I like.                               

What is your favourite part about working with family?

Marie-Christine and I get along very well, and we both have different skills. We work together often. Previously, Sports for Hope hosted a charity boxing night with Nissim Tse, and I designed Nissim’s outfit. She has an appreciation for my work, and I like her energy and sense of passion, so we complement each other very well.

Working with family can be tricky, but it can also be fun. It comes down to personal chemistry. The thing about family is that there is a sense of trust. You know you’re not cheating each other (at least not in my family), but sometimes, you see each other so often that it’s difficult to separate work from non-work. As long as you have discipline, it works.

What message are you hoping to convey with each piece?

That things can be recycled and don’t have to be sent to landfill. Great designers turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. I would like people to see the pieces and think, “Oh I’ve known about tennis balls, but I never knew this could be possible”, or at least I hope that they find some of the set-ups humorous.

View the Afterlife animation developed by Ren Studios below: