Pier-2 Art Center Introduction
The Pier-2 Art Center is a creative hub for the culture of Kaohsiung, transforming the old warehouses that were once part of the Kaohsiung port into a vibrant space. Its origins date back to the Japanese colonial period, when these warehouses were primarily used for storing fish meal, sugar, and various import and export goods. As industrial changes took place, the international sugar prices dropped in the 1970s, leading to a decline in Taiwan's sugar industry and the eventual abandonment of the warehouses due to decreasing usage rates. Following the shift in freight functions away from the port area, commercial activities declined, leaving this group of warehouses to transform from a bustling trade center into a forgotten port space. Since 2000, the Kaohsiung City Government and the arts community have focused on revitalizing these warehouses through the "Idle Space Reuse Project," gradually bringing them back to life. Named "Pier-2" because of its location at the No. 2 transit dock of Kaohsiung Port, the area was officially taken over by the Kaohsiung City Government's Cultural Bureau in 2006, developing into the most representative cultural and artistic park in southern Taiwan. It attracts various art exhibitions, design creations, and music activities, making it an important symbol of Kaohsiung's urban transformation and injecting new cultural energy into this harbor city. Today, the Pier-2 Art Center has evolved into a community of art and creativity, creating a vibrant cultural space for citizens and tourists alike. With the opening of the Kaohsiung Coastal Light Rail, access to Pier-2 has become easier, as the light rail connects the warehouses and the harbor, linking different exhibition spaces and attractions, allowing visitors to leisurely experience its unique artistic atmosphere and urban aesthetics. Centered in the Dayong District, the Pier-2 Art Center connects with the Pone Lai District and the Dayi District through the coastal light rail, creating a unique marine-themed cultural atmosphere. The Pier-2 Tower serves as the best viewing platform to overlook the large port bridge, with an entrance fee of NT$10 per person per visit. The opening hours for Pier-2 Tower 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 Complex is the starting point for the development of the Pier-2 Art Center, housing the earliest exhibition spaces and gathering contemporary art, visual culture, and cultural performance venues. The P2 and C5 warehouses in particular were among the initial exhibition spaces and continue to primarily host static art exhibitions today. Meanwhile, the C1 and C2 warehouses are home to the in89 Pier-2 Cinema, while the C4 warehouse has been occupied by Eslite Bookstore. Additionally, the Pier-2 Art Center recently added the "Pier-2 Co-Creation Base," a newly planned cultural space that has developed into an open platform combining co-creation values and knowledge sharing, promoting deep cultural and urban transformation. These changes have established the Dayong Warehouse Complex not just as an exhibition space, but as a combination of visual arts, reading, and innovative experimentation, continuously injecting diverse cultural energy into the Pier-2 Art Center. The Pone Lai Warehouse Complex was officially included in the Pier-2 Art Center in 2012, and is interconnected with the Hama Star Railway Cultural Park, showcasing Kaohsiung's century-long railway history along with contemporary artistic creativity. Among these warehouses, the Hama Star Taiwan Railway Museum is renowned for having the largest dynamic railway model exhibition in Asia, attracting countless railway enthusiasts and family visitors to explore. The Pone Lai Warehouse Complex also serves as an important venue for performances and specialty markets, regularly hosting outdoor concerts, art markets, and immersive exhibitions, blending the historical warehouses with modern culture to become one of the most charming cultural enclaves in the harbor city. The Dayi Warehouse Complex consists of six warehouses and is the last area to be added to the Pier-2 layout. It primarily accommodates individual commercial studios as a base for the cultural and creative industries, with various unique shops and public art pieces tucked away in the alleys, along with weekend cultural markets, making it the most artistic area in the entire art park. The Pier-2 Art Center often hosts a variety of 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, it allows art to enter the daily lives of the city, bringing unique cultural vitality to Kaohsiung. Whether participating in these art events or strolling along the harbor with the sea breeze, the Pier-2 Art Center has become an integral part of the lives of art enthusiasts, cultural travelers, and citizens. This place is not just a tourist attraction; it is a constantly evolving artistic community where every visitor can find their own story and inspiration within this cultural landmark.
