Pier-2 Art Center Introduction
The old warehouses have found new life as a creative hub for harbor culture, the Pier-2 Art Center was originally a group of warehouses at the Port of Kaohsiung, dating back to the Japanese colonial period, which were primarily used for storing fish meal, sugar, and various import and export goods. With industrial changes, the international sugar prices fell in the 1970s, leading to a decline in Taiwan's sugar industry and a decrease in the usage rate of these warehouses, which were eventually left vacant. After the freight function of the port was transferred, the surrounding commercial activities gradually dwindled, turning this cluster of warehouses from a once-thriving trade hub into a forgotten harbor space. Since 2000, the Kaohsiung City Government and the cultural sector began to pay attention to these warehouses and gradually promoted the revitalization of the warehouses through the "Idle Space Reuse Program," naming it "Pier-2" due to its location at the No. 2 Transit Wharf in Kaohsiung Port. By 2006, Pier-2 was officially taken over by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government, developing into the most representative cultural and artistic park in Southern Taiwan, attracting various art exhibitions, design creations, and music events, becoming an important indicator of Kaohsiung's urban transformation, injecting new cultural energy into the harbor city. Today, Pier-2 Art Center has transformed into a community of art and creativity, creating a vibrant cultural space for citizens and visitors. With the opening of the Kaohsiung Light Rail, access to Pier-2 has become more convenient, as the light rail connects the warehouses and harbor, linking various exhibition spaces and unique attractions, allowing travelers to leisurely enjoy the unique artistic atmosphere and urban aesthetics. The Pier-2 Art Center is centered around the Dayong District, connected to the Penglai District and Dayi District through the waterfront light rail, creating a unique marine cultural atmosphere. The Pier-2 Tower is the best viewing platform to overlook the Dapeng Bay Bridge, with an entry fee of NT$10 per person. Opening hours for the Pier-2 Tower: Monday to Thursday 10:00-17:30, Friday to Sunday and public holidays 10:00-19:30. The Dayong Warehouse Cluster is the starting point for the development of the Pier-2 Art Center, featuring some of the earliest exhibition spaces and bringing together contemporary art, visual culture, and cultural performance venues. Among them, warehouses P2 and C5 were the most original exhibition spaces, still mainly hosting static art exhibitions today. The C1 and C2 warehouses now house the in89 Pier-2 Cinema, while the C4 warehouse has been taken over by Eslite Bookstore. Additionally, in recent years, the Pier-2 Art Center has introduced the "Pier-2 Co-Creation Base," a newly planned cultural space that serves as an open platform combining co-creation values and knowledge sharing, promoting the in-depth cultivation of culture and urban transformation. These transformations have turned the Dayong Warehouse Cluster into more than just an exhibition space, integrating images, reading, and innovative experiments, continually injecting diverse cultural energy into the Pier-2 Art Center. The Penglai Warehouse Cluster was officially incorporated into the Pier-2 Art Center in 2012 and is linked to the Pier-2 Art Center, showcasing the century-long railway history of Kaohsiung alongside contemporary art and creativity. The Hamar Star Taiwan Railway Museum within the warehouses is famous for having Asia's largest dynamic railway model exhibition, attracting countless railway enthusiasts and family visitors. The Penglai Warehouse Cluster is also an important venue for performances and special markets, regularly holding outdoor concerts, art markets, and immersive exhibitions, blending modern culture with this historical warehouse, making it one of the most charming cultural hubs in the harbor city. The Dayi Warehouse Cluster consists of six warehouses, being the last area to be incorporated into the Pier-2 layout, primarily housing individual business-style studios as a base for the development of the cultural and creative industry. Various unique shops and public art pieces are hidden in the corners of the alleys, along with weekend creative markets, making it the most artistic spot in the entire art park. The Pier-2 Art Center frequently hosts numerous annual art events, such as the Kaohsiung Design Festival, Container Art Festival, Pier-2 Animation 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 the urban daily life and bringing unique cultural vitality to Kaohsiung. Whether participating in these art events or strolling by the harbor with the sea breeze, the Pier-2 Art Center has become a part of the lives of art lovers, cultural travelers, and citizens. It is not just a tourist attraction but a continuously evolving artistic community, allowing every visitor to find their own story and inspiration in this cultural landmark.
