Pier-2 Art Center Introduction
Pier-2 Art Center is a creative base of port culture that breathes new life into old warehouses, which were originally a group of storage buildings at Kaohsiung Port dating back to the Japanese colonial period. These warehouses were primarily used for storing fish meal, sugar, and various import and export goods. As industrial changes occurred and international sugar prices dropped in the 1970s, Taiwan's sugar industry gradually declined, leading to a decrease in warehouse usage and ultimately their abandonment. With the shift of freight functions away from the port, surrounding commercial activities also declined, transforming this once-bustling hub of trade into a forgotten space in the port area. Starting in 2000, the Kaohsiung City Government and the cultural community began to focus on revitalizing this area through a "Revitalization of Idle Space Project," gradually activating the warehouses. Since the site is located near Kaohsiung Port's Second Terminal, it was named "Pier-2." By 2006, Pier-2 was officially managed by the Kaohsiung City Government's Cultural Affairs Bureau and has developed into the most representative cultural and arts park in southern Taiwan, attracting various arts exhibitions, design creations, and music activities, becoming a significant indicator of urban transformation in Kaohsiung and injecting new cultural energy into this port city. Today, Pier-2 Art Center has transformed into a vibrant community of art and creativity, creating a lively cultural space for both citizens and visitors. With the opening of the Kaohsiung Waterfront Light Rail, accessing Pier-2 has become even more convenient, with the light rail connecting the warehouses and the harbor, linking various exhibition spaces and unique attractions, allowing travelers to leisurely immerse themselves in the unique artistic atmosphere and urban aesthetics. The Pier-2 Art Center is centered around the Dayong District, connected by the waterfront light rail to the Fengshan District and Dayi District, creating a unique marine-themed cultural and creative atmosphere. The Pier-2 Tower offers the best viewpoint for gazing at the Big Harbor Bridge, with an entrance fee of NT$10 per person per visit. The operating hours are Monday to Thursday from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM and Friday to Sunday and public holidays from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM. The Dayong Warehouse Group is the starting point for the development of the Pier-2 Art Center, featuring the earliest exhibition spaces and hosting contemporary art, visual culture, and cultural creative performance venues. Among them, the P2 and C5 warehouses were the first exhibition spaces in Pier-2, still primarily used for static art exhibitions. The C1 and C2 warehouses now house the in89 Pier-2 Cinema, while the C4 warehouse has been taken over by Eslite Bookstore. Recently, the Pier-2 Art Center has added the "Pier-2 Co-Creation Base," a newly planned cultural space developed as an open platform for co-creation value and knowledge sharing, promoting in-depth cultural and urban transformation. These changes have made the Dayong Warehouse Group not only an exhibition space but a combination of visual media, reading, and innovative experiments, continuously injecting diverse cultural energy into the Pier-2 Art Center. The Fengshan Warehouse Group was officially incorporated into the Pier-2 Art Center in 2012 and is connected to the Hamasen Railroad Cultural Park, showcasing Kaohsiung's century-old railroad history and contemporary artistic creativity. The Hamasen Taiwan Railroad Museum inside the warehouse is known for having the largest dynamic railroad model exhibition in Asia, attracting numerous railroad enthusiasts and family visitors. The Fengshan Warehouse Group is also an important venue for performances and specialty markets, regularly hosting outdoor concerts, art markets, and immersive exhibitions, blending historical warehouses with modern culture and making it one of the most charming cultural clusters in the port city. The Dayi Warehouse Group, containing six warehouses, is the last area to be included in the Pier-2 landscape, mainly hosting individual business-type studios as a base for the development of cultural and creative industries. Various unique shops and public art pieces are hidden in the corners of the alleys, along with weekend cultural and creative markets, making it the most artsy area in 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, integrating art into daily urban life and bringing unique cultural vitality to Kaohsiung. Whether participating in these artistic events or strolling along the harbor with the sea breeze, Pier-2 Art Center has become an integral part of the lives of art enthusiasts, cultural travelers, and citizens. It is more than just a tourist attraction; it is a continuously evolving art community where every visitor can find their own story and inspiration within this cultural landmark.
