Pier 2 Art Centre – Kaohsiung’s Most Colourful District
May 25, 2018
My favourite colours used to be black and white, but in recent years, I’ve been drawn to a spectrum of colours which expresses my happy thoughts and feelings. When I visit a new destination, I will make it a point to visit colourful photo spots in the form of wall murals or art galleries. On my recent trip to Kaohsiung, the locals recommended me to visit the Pier 2 Art Centre. This district is divided into many areas showcasing different art exhibitions.
The seaside location of Pier 2 Art Centre used to be a forgotten place full of abandoned warehouses. Today, this area is one of the liveliest and most crowded places in Kaohsiung city because a group of persistent artist decided to revamp the neighbourhood using their creativity and artistic talents. I was impressed by the eclectic mix of the old area with contemporary fine art. On days when the weather is good, you can dine al fresco at one of the cafés located at the artistic warehouse clusters and enjoy the sea breeze. Watching the vast ocean and sky while sipping on my favourite bubble milk tea made me feel very relaxed.
At the far end of the artistic warehouse clusters, you will come across 椅子樂譜 (known as the ‘Music of Chairs’) which is a fantastic artwork depicting the memories of the past. You will find some wall murals as you explore the warehouses. After passing the warehouse clusters, the wall murals start appearing on buildings and they become more and more colourful. My top two favourite wall murals are the 3D Train Station and the 12 Animals of the Zodiac Sign.
Just follow the road and you’ll arrive at the Penglai area where objects made out of iron are displayed. The popular ones where both locals and tourists gather around for photo-taking are the iron trumpet and the huge iron suitcase. You might have to wait in the queue for your turn for pictures. There are different events which take place every month in the warehouses around the Penglai area. You can check their website for updates if you are interested.
Before you leave Pier 2 Art Centre via the Sizihwan MRT station, your final photo stop will be at the Takao Railway Museum where you get to see old trains. The museum used to be the first railway station in Kaohsiung built during the Japanese occupation. On 9 November 2008, the last train was pulled out from the station at 5.30pm. Subsequently in 2003, the station building was classified as a historical building by the Kaohsiung City Government.
Pier 2 Art Centre
Address: No.1 Dayong Road, Yancheng District, Kaohsiung City 803, Taiwan
Contact: (07)5214899 or (07)5214881
Website: http://pier-2.khcc.gov.tw/eng/