Pier-2 Art Center Introduction
Pier-2 Art Center, the creative base of port city culture, was formerly a group of warehouses in Kaohsiung Harbor, dating back to the Japanese colonial period when it primarily stored fish meal, sugar, and various import and export goods. With industrial changes and the drop in international sugar prices in the 1970s, Taiwan's sugar industry gradually declined, leading to a decrease in warehouse usage and eventual abandonment. After the cargo function of the harbor shifted, surrounding commercial activities also began to dwindle, transforming this once-bustling trade hub into a forgotten port space. Since 2000, the Kaohsiung City Government and the arts community have taken notice of these warehouses, gradually revitalizing them through the "Idle Space Reuse Plan." Due to its location at Kaohsiung Port's No. 2 Transfer Terminal, it was named "Pier-2." In 2006, the Pier-2 was officially taken over by the Kaohsiung City Government's Cultural Bureau and developed into the most representative cultural and artistic park in Southern Taiwan, attracting various art exhibitions, design creations, and music events. It has become a significant marker of urban transformation in Kaohsiung, injecting new cultural energy into this harbor city. Today, Pier-2 Art Center has transformed into a hub of art and creativity, creating a vibrant cultural space for citizens and tourists. With the opening of the Kaohsiung Waterfront Light Rail, access to Pier-2 has become more convenient, connecting various exhibition spaces and attractions through the warehouses and harbor, allowing travelers to leisurely experience the unique artistic atmosphere and urban aesthetics. The Pier-2 Art Center is centered in the Dayong District and connects the Penglai District and Daji District through the waterfront light rail, creating a unique ocean-themed cultural and creative atmosphere. The Pier-2 Tower serves as the best viewing platform for the Dagang Bridge, with an admission fee of 10 NTD per person per visit. Opening hours of the Pier-2 Tower: Monday to Thursday 10:00-17:30; Friday to Sunday and National Holidays 10:00-19:30. The Dayong Warehouse Group is the starting point for the development of the Pier-2 Art Center, featuring the earliest exhibition spaces and gathering contemporary art, video culture, and creative performance venues. Among them, the P2 and C5 warehouses are the original exhibition halls of Pier-2, currently focused on static art exhibitions. The C1 and C2 warehouses now house the in89 Pier-2 Cinema, while the C4 warehouse is home to Eslite Bookstore. In recent years, the Pier-2 Art Center has introduced the "Pier-2 Co-Creation Base," a newly planned cultural venue, developed into an open platform that combines co-creation, value, and knowledge sharing to promote cultural and urban transformation in depth. These transformations have made the Dayong Warehouse Group not just an exhibition space but also an integration of visuals, reading, and innovative experiments, continuing to inject diverse cultural energy into the Pier-2 Art Center. The Penglai Warehouse Group was officially incorporated into the Pier-2 Art Center in 2012 and is interconnected with the Hama Sky Cultural Park, showcasing the century-long history of Kaohsiung's railway alongside contemporary artistic creativity. The Hama Sky Taiwan Railway Museum within the warehouse is known for having the largest dynamic railway model exhibition in Asia, attracting countless train enthusiasts and family visitors to explore. The Penglai Warehouse Group also serves as an important venue for performance activities and unique markets, regularly hosting outdoor concerts, art markets, and immersive exhibitions, blending historical warehouses with modern culture, making it one of the most charming cultural clusters in the harbor city. The Daji Warehouse Group consists of six warehouses and is the last area integrated into the Pier-2. It mainly accommodates personal business-type studios as a base for cultural and creative industry development, featuring various unique shops and public art installations hidden in alley corners, along with weekend creative markets, making it the most artsy area within the entire art park. The Pier-2 Art Center frequently hosts many annual art events, such as the Kaohsiung Design Festival, Container Art Festival, Pier-2 Anime Festival, and Steel Sculpture Art Festival, bringing together domestic and international artists and designers through exhibitions, installation art, musical performances, and immersive experiences, allowing art to enter urban life and bringing unique cultural vitality to Kaohsiung. Whether participating in these art events or strolling along the breezy harbor, the Pier-2 Art Center has become a part of the lives of art lovers, creative travelers, and citizens. It is not just a tourist attraction but a continuously evolving artistic community, allowing every visitor to find their own stories and emotions within this cultural landmark.
