Book in focus: Colourful Hong Kong – Street Art Stories by Alexandra Unrein
Launch day of Colourful Hong Kong – Street Art Stories by Alexandra Unrein © Kyra Campbell
From calligraphy roots to contemporary murals, Hong Kong’s street art bursts with colour, creativity, and personal expression, often tucked away in the city’s hidden alleyways and unexpected nooks of the concrete landscape.
Colourful Hong Kong – Street Art Stories, authored by Alexandra Unrein and published in October 2025, stands as the first dedicated book to chronicle this dynamic and evolving scene. Through over 200 photographs, insightful essays, and in-depth artist profiles, she captures the essence of a movement that has transformed parts of the city’s urban fabric into an open-air gallery.
Alexandra Unrein in front of Elsa Jeandedieu’s Angel Wings, Sheung Wan, 2018 © Willis Lee
Author Alexandra Unrein
Originally from Germany, Alexandra Unrein is a street art photographer, tour guide, and author. She first visited Hong Kong over 15 years ago, and has been documenting the vibrant world of street art since 2010.
After relocating full-time in 2017, she became deeply embedded in the local scene: curating street art tours for the HKWalls Street Art Festival since 2018, and founding her own company, Wanderlust Walks Hong Kong.
More recently, she participated in the Hong Kong Literary Festival (HKILF) with Colourful Hong Kong: Street Art Walk, on March 7, 2026. As part of the festival’s 25th anniversary celebrations, this immersive walking tour took participants through the murals and hidden narratives of Central.
Ana Druga and Alexandra Unrein at BUCHKUNST BERLIN, January 2026 (source: Ana Druga’s Instagram)
A seven-year long journey
The journey of this book spanned seven years, culminating in its publication in October 2025. The process faced its share of challenges, particularly with the onset of the pandemic, which inevitably slowed progress.
In 2023, Alexandra joined a 5-day workshop at the Blue Lotus Gallery, with the photo book designers and publishers Thomas Gust and Ana Druga from BUCHKUNST BERLIN. Ana agreed to collaborate on Alex’s book, becoming instrumental in both the design and photo selection.
The “impossible” selection of 200 photos © Alexandra Unrein
What began as a collection of 4,000 images was carefully refined by the duo; they ultimately narrowed it down to a final set of 200 photos featured in the book.
Choosing the cover photo was no easy task, as one can imagine. Alexandra aimed to select an artwork that truly captured the essence of Hong Kong, created by an artist from the city or with strong ties to it. Ultimately, she settled on a piece by Sinic, which beautifully represents Sham Shui Po, one of the most vibrant districts in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s Street Art Highlights: Community Focus
A love letter to Hong Kong’s street art scene
Colourful Hong Kong – Street Art Stories transcends the typical photobook; it acts as both a historical overview and a visual celebration of Hong Kong’s street art scene.
In her introduction, Unrein explains that she originally “aimed for something more of an encyclopaedia”, but eventually “had to reduce the scope of the book”. Nevertheless, she maintains a similar approach, featuring a well-organized set of contents that includes a glossary and a list of all the Instagram accounts for the artists involved.
Victoriano TX, “Don’t wake up the panda”, Central, 2019 © Alexandra Unrein
Tracing the emergence and evolution of street art in Hong Kong, she illustrates the transformation from sporadic graffiti and tags to a more recognized form of public expression. Influences range from the local “East meets West” dynamic as well as broader international trends, with the artwork often reflecting the city’s intricate architecture, social challenges, and transient nature – many pieces are temporary, painted over, or fade away with time.
Keeping this in mind, owning the book serves as a lively reminder of unique artworks, featuring rarely seen works, including early pieces and those that have since vanished. The hardcover format, adorned with the colourful art of Sinic, makes it an eye-catching coffee-table piece. The photography – much of it captured by Unrein herself – brings an authentic insider’s eye, emphasizing the contrast between stunning murals and Hong Kong’s gritty backstreets.
AAFK: Multinational Power Duo
Detailed profiles of street artists
A core strength of the book lies in its focus on the artists themselves. In particular, Unrein profiles twelve key figures who have shaped the scene, delving into their personal stories, motivations, and contributions:
- Hong Kong’s Kings (true originals): King of Kowloon and the Plumber King
- Hong Kong Originals (local artists): Bao Ho (often referred to as the “Street Art Queen”), BOMS, Go Hung, Kristopher Ho, and Zoie Lam (ZLism)
- Hong Kong Connections (expat artists): AAFK, Angela Ho (Ahoy), Cath Love, Elsa Jeandedieu, and Stern Rockwell
These chapters go beyond surface-level descriptions, presenting interviews and context that reveal the human side of the art: why certain walls are chosen, how political or personal themes emerge, and the hurdles faced by artists in a city with limited space and strict regulations.
Kristopher Ho, “Sham Shui Po People” project, Sham Shui Po, 2021 © Alexandra Unrein
For anyone interested in Hong Kong’s contemporary culture, urban exploration, or street art worldwide, Colourful Hong Kong – Street Art Stories is an essential read. In a city that never stops moving, Unrein’s book reminds us to pause and look up, or down the alley, for the stories painted on the walls. Through her lens, Hong Kong’s streets become not just a backdrop, but a living canvas of colour and community.
* * *
Colourful Hong Kong Street Art Stories is available through local bookstores such as Parenthèses, online retailers like The Lion Rock Press, Bookazine, and Alexandra Unrein’s own site Streetartorama.
Colourful Hong Kong Street Art Stories
Author: Alexandra Maria Unrein
Cover and book design: Ana Druga
Publisher: Alexandra Maria Unrein
First published in Hong Kong, October 2025
Language: English
Size: 165 x 235mm
Pages: 308
Price: HK$ 450/ EUR 50
Wanderlust Walks Hong Kong: book your street art tour with Alexandra Unrein
https://www.wanderlustwalkshongkong.com/
HKWALLS 2026: March 21-29, 2026.
More details HERE