Pier-2 Art Center Introduction
The creative base of port city culture with a new life for old warehouses, the Pier-2 Art Center was originally a cluster of warehouses at Kaohsiung Harbor, dating back to the Japanese colonial period, when it was primarily used for storing fishmeal, sugar, and various import and export goods. With industrial changes, the international sugar price fell in the 1970s, leading to a gradual decline in Taiwan's sugar industry and a decrease in warehouse utilization, ultimately resulting in their abandonment. After the cargo function of the port shifted, surrounding commercial activities also declined, transforming this warehouse cluster from a bustling trade hub to a forgotten port area. Starting in 2000, the Kaohsiung City Government and the art community began to pay attention to this group of warehouses, gradually revitalizing them through the "Idle Space Reuse Program." Due to its location at the second pier of Kaohsiung Harbor, it was named "Pier-2." By 2006, the Pier-2 was officially managed by the Kaohsiung City Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau, and developed into the most representative cultural and artistic park in southern Taiwan, attracting various art exhibitions, design creations, and music activities, thus becoming an important indicator of Kaohsiung's urban transformation and infusing a new cultural energy into this port city. Today, the Pier-2 Art Center has transformed into a hub of arts and creativity, creating a vibrant cultural space for citizens and tourists. With the opening of the Kaohsiung Waterfront Light Rail, accessing Pier-2 has become more convenient, as the light rail connects the warehouses and harbors, linking various exhibition spaces and characteristic attractions, allowing travelers to enjoy the unique artistic atmosphere and urban aesthetics. The Pier-2 Art Center is centered in the Dayong District, interconnected with the Penglai and Dayi Districts through the waterfront light rail, cultivating a unique marine-themed cultural and creative atmosphere. The Pier-2 Tower serves as the best observation deck to overlook the Dagang Bridge, with an entrance fee of NT$10 per person. The opening hours for the Pier-2 Tower are: Monday to Thursday from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and Friday to Sunday and national holidays from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM. The Dayong Warehouse Cluster is the starting point for the development of the Pier-2 Art Center, featuring the earliest exhibition spaces and concentrating contemporary art, visual culture, and creative performance venues. Among them, warehouses P2 and C5 are the earliest exhibition venues in Pier-2, still primarily focusing on static art exhibitions. Meanwhile, warehouses C1 and C2 now house the in89 Pier-2 Cinema, and warehouse C4 is occupied by Eslite Bookstore. Additionally, in recent years, the Pier-2 Art Center has added the "Pier-2 Co-Creation Base," a newly planned cultural space developed as an open platform that combines co-creation values and knowledge sharing, promoting cultural and urban transformation. These changes have turned the Dayong Warehouse Cluster into more than just an exhibition venue, integrating media, reading, and innovative experiments, continuously 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 with the Hamasen Railway Cultural Park, showcasing Kaohsiung's century-old railway history and contemporary artistic creativity. Among them, the Hamasen Taiwan Railway Museum inside the warehouse is known for having the largest dynamic railway model exhibition in Asia, attracting countless railway enthusiasts and family visitors for exploration. The Penglai Warehouse Cluster also serves as an important venue for performances and special markets, regularly hosting outdoor concerts, art markets, and immersive exhibitions, blending historical warehouses with modern culture, making it one of the most charming cultural hubs in the port city. The Dayi Warehouse Cluster consists of six warehouses and is the last area incorporated into the Pier-2 layout, primarily allowing individual business studios to settle, serving as a base for the development of the cultural and creative industry. Various characteristic shops and public art pieces are hidden in the alleys, along with weekend creative markets, making it the most culturally trendy area in the entire art park. The Pier-2 Art Center frequently holds numerous annual art events, such as the Kaohsiung Design Festival, Container Art Festival, Pier-2 Anime Festival, and Steel Sculpture Art Festival, gathering artists and designers from both domestic and international locations. Through exhibitions, installation art, musical performances, and immersive experiences, art is integrated into the daily life of the city, bringing unique cultural vitality to Kaohsiung. Whether participating in these art events or strolling along the harbor with a gentle sea breeze, the Pier-2 Art Center has become a part of the lives of art lovers, creative travelers, and citizens. This place is not just a tourist attraction; it is an evolving art community, where every visitor can find their own story and inspiration within this cultural landmark.
