Enjoying Cultural Sites via Kaohsiung Rapid Transit System
◎English translation:Hou Ya-ting ◎Photos by Pao Jhong-hui, Jhang Jian Ying-hao, Kao Jhih-hung, Liao Shun-fu
Kaohsiung Rapid Transit System (KRTS), which began operations in 2008, has changed how people commute and travel in the busiest parts of Kaohsiung. The efficiency of its two lines –Red and Orange –has gradually attracted passengers, and paved the way for the city's sustainable transportation goals. When passengers take the KRTS, they are delighted by the public art works, installed in every station, which fully present the city's artistic side to visitors. Several are large-scale and especially magnificent.
The work "Heavenly Creation" is on display at the Red Line's Ciaotou Station. This 9m x 12m work was created and constructed by Dr. Chu Pan-hsiung, founder of Meinong Kiln. More than 70 tonnes of clay were used to form its 1,311 ceramics pieces. Inspired by Taiwan's industrial development, the central part of "Heavenly Creation" depicts geometrically-shaped cities which represent civilization. At both the top and the bottom, murals represent the Earth. Since Taiwan's industrial development was profoundly influenced by Kaohsiung's sugar industry and railway, this gigantic work of ceramic art salutes Dr. Chu's homeland of Taiwan.
World Games Station, also on the Red Line, is adjacent to the World Games Main Stadium. The public art work "Floating Rainforest" at this station was designed by the WJI Team (Ron Wood and Christian Karl Jassen). The WJI Team created this tapestry-like artwork by printing out a film depicting southern Taiwan's insects and plants, and placing it between two layers of safety glass. "Floating Rainforest" is part of the glass canopy over the track, the concourse, and the escalator wall. This artwork expresses boundless vitality. It is fascinating to watch how sunlight shines through the work, presenting different shadows at different times of the day.
The glass art installation "The Dome of Light" at Formosa Boulevard Station is a must-visit cultural landmark. It was created by Italian artist Maestro Narcissus Quagliata, and is composed of 4,500 pieces of stained glass which convey four main themes: water, earth, light and fire. Each theme carries certain messages: Water is depicted as the womb of life; earth is shown as prosperity and growth; light symbolizes the creative spirit; while fire represents destruction and rebirth. The dome has a diameter of 30m, and the work's total surface area is 660m , held in place by two illuminated columns. "The Dome of Light" is the largest stained-glass work of art in the world. The fabrication of the dome was a collaborative effort by teams in Japan, Germany, the US, Mexico and Italy. Since October 2015, the dome is also the location of regular light-and-music shows. During workdays, shows are at 11:00, 15:00 and 20:00; an additional light show will be given at 19:00 on Friday. Each weekend, there are shows at 11:00, 15:00, 17:00, 19:00 and 20:00. Audio guides which explain the meaning of this work of art can be borrowed for free inside the station.
Designed by German glass artist Lutz Haufschild, the stunning set of sculpted glass walls titled "Emerald Laminata" is near the service counter at Kaohsiung International Airport Station, near the southern end of the Red Line. "Emerald Laminata" was inspired by both the exquisite carved jades at the National Palace Museum in Taipei, and Taiwan's maritime environment. The work comprises two sculpted glass walls, one named "Tree of Life," the other "Infinity." Each wall is 15m long and 3.5m high. Lighting equipment installed at the back of "Emerald Laminata" produces fascinating visual effects along these three-dimensional sculpted glass walls.
If you are in the mood for cultural events, the Orange Line connects four major cultural venues: Pier-2 Art Center, Kaohsiung Cultural Center, Wei-Wu-Ying Center for the Arts, and Dadong Arts Center. Pier-2 Art Center hosts art groups of various kinds, and is now a popular tourist destination. The cultural center is Kaohsiung's oldest performance venue; between the main building and the concourse, there is a circular piazza and a park. Despite the opening of other venues in the Kaohsiung area, the center still hosts a lot of performances. On weekends, an art market is held each afternoon inside the enclosed area. Visitors can meet local artists and watch street performers in action.
Many Kaohsiung residents are looking forward to the completion of the Wei-Wu-Ying Center for the Arts by the end of 2016, because it will be the first national-level theater in southern Taiwan. The central government has invested NT10.1 billion in building the center, meaning it is the largest cultural-venue investment since the completion of the National Theater & Concert Hall in Taipei. Covering 3.3 hectares, the center was designed by Dutch architect Francine Houben and is located on what used to be a military base. The original barracks have been preserved and repurposed as small-scale performance halls. Moreover, the site's many old banyan trees have also been preserved, and the central grassy area hosts more than 100 events every year, among them the Wei-Wu-Ying Kids' Art Festival in spring and the Wei-Wu-Ying Art Festival in fall.
If you are in the neighborhood, be sure to visit the adjacent Wei-Wu-Ying Metropolitan Park, which covers 50 hectares and has rich ecological diversity. Visitors can see a wide range of plants, insects and wildlife.
As soon as visitors step out of Dadong Station, they will see eleven huge membrane funnels, their shape being part of Dadong Arts Center's iconic architecture. The center is located between the banyan park, Fongshan River and Fongshan Old Street. Fongshan Elementary School is next door; because the number of school-age children is falling, the school was downsized, freeing up 4.3 hectares of land on which the arts center was built.
The upside-down funnels facilitate ventilation and provide shelter and shadow, allowing residents to engage in various activities, such as dance or Tai chi, even when it is raining or very sunny. The arts center has a theater, an exhibition center, a library and an education center. The library here is regarded as one of Taiwan's top ten libraries. At Dadong Arts Center, residents and tourists alike can enjoy an elegant environment, as well as art and literature.
Fongyi Academy is a cultural and architectural attraction between the Orange Line's Fongshan and Dadong stations. Built in 1814, the academy is the largest original academy relic in Taiwan. After five years of renovation, Fongyi Academy has been restored to its former glory. Inside, exhibitions focus on the education system and imperial civil-service examinations in the Cing Dynasty, which ruled Taiwan until 1895.
The Red and Orange lines intersect at Formosa Boulevard Station, where travelers can easily transfer. Whether you want to visit artistic and cultural venues, stroll in parks, or enjoy local food, the KRTS provides access to multiple destinations. Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Co. sells one-day passes, two-day passes and other types of ticket which make exploring Kaohsiung quick and convenient.
捷運紅橘交相連 悠遊高雄公共藝術與文創休閒
◎文／章利幸 ◎攝影／鮑忠暉、張簡英豪、高志宏、廖順福
搭乘高雄捷運可以欣賞國際級的公共藝術品，紅線從小港機場一直延伸到岡山 ，各個捷運站都設置公共藝術，讓城市成為一座以動力連結的大型美術館，尤其捷運紅線邀請許多優秀藝術家，在許多站體精心打造充滿文藝氣息的大型公共藝術，讓遊客感受人的溫度、城市的浪漫。
捷運橋頭火車站「天工開物」公共藝術作品，由美濃窯朱邦雄博士耗費超過70公噸陶土，以1311塊陶板組合創作成一幅寬9公尺、高12公尺的陶壁藝術作品。作品中央以幾何圖形象徵城市意象，上下兩端則是孕育蔗糖的土地；載運蔗糖的火車橫越橋頭大地，藝術家以開闊壯觀的景致表達對橋頭謳歌和讚賞。
鄰近國家體育場是世運站，WJI團隊將龐大世運站體的玻璃帷幕當成一塊畫布，以南台灣的各種昆蟲、植物為元素，在站體多處的玻璃牆面點綴活潑生動的圖樣。透過不同時段的日光投射，地板上光影紛陳，讓等待列車的旅客猶如置身雨林，感染熱帶叢林奔放的生命力。
美麗島站「光之穹頂」由義大利籍水仙大師設計，運用『水、土、光、火』象徵宇宙與人的誕生、成長、創造與毀滅，成為許多來到高雄旅客必遊的朝聖地。面積達660平方公尺的光之穹頂，由正中央兩支閃耀的廊柱支撐，4500片玻璃鑲嵌而成，不但是世界最大的玻璃鑲嵌藝術作品，也是日本、德國、美國、墨西哥、義大利等團隊的智慧結晶。近期更加入藝術聲光特效，藉由聲光舞動的節拍與視覺效果，增添光之穹頂的動態美感。「穹頂光炫秀」每天11、15及20時各放映一場，週五19 時加映，週六與週日則17、19時再加映，並提供自動語音導覽免費借用服務。
高雄國際機場是南台灣的世界門戶，在服務台前方「凝聚的綠寶石」公共藝術，是德國玻璃藝術家Lutz Haufschild創作，以綠水與生命相呼應為主題設計，強化了高雄的海洋意象。作品分為Ａ牆「生命之樹」與Ｂ牆「無窮無盡」，合計總長30公尺，高3.3公尺，是目前世界上最大的玻璃雕塑3Ｄ公共藝術品。透過日光與燈光投射，上萬片深淺不一的綠玻璃經反射、折射效果，觀者在不同角度、時段都能有不同的藝術美感、百看不厭。
搭乘高雄捷運橘線還能輕鬆抵達駁二藝術特區、高雄市立文化中心、衛武營藝術文化中心、大東藝術文化中心等高雄四大藝文中心。駁二藝術特區隨著眾多的藝文團隊進駐，早已是高雄藝文能量的代言詞。而高雄文化中心則是高雄最早的藝文殿堂，在主建築與正門之間有圓形露天廣場和綠地，其完善的展演設施是許多劇團表演的首選，外圍也有當地藝術工作者創作的市民藝術大道，每週末下午舉行的藝術市集，不僅提供街頭藝人展演舞台，也是創意工作者與工藝愛好者尋寶與交流的好去處。
由荷蘭建築師設計的衛武營藝術中心是南臺灣第一座國家級表演藝術場館，也是自國家兩廳院以來規模最大的文化硬體建設，預計2016年底完工。籌備處在整修周邊時，保留了原先軍營房舍和綠地，也打造了沿用軍營編號的「281」及「285」展演場、榕園藝術廣場、衛武營戶外園區及都會公園中央草坪等大小空間，每年舉辦百餘場各式演出，夏秋兩季也會以節慶方式舉辦「童樂節」、「玩劇節」。衛武營都會公園遼闊綠地吸引大家前來運動休閒，漫步在公園裡欣賞植物、昆蟲、禽鳥等自然生態景致，感受都市生活與大自然共處的幸福時光。
走出大東捷運站，一座半戶外薄膜屋頂的展演館就聳立眼前，展演館周邊百榕園、鳳山溪以及鳳山老街串連成一片悠閒的生活景象，這片由大東國小改建而成的藝術中心，引入自然風的流動並搭配錯落光影、水流潺聲營造出獨特的東方禪意美學。除了具有藝文展演功能外，還有登上2015年台灣十大圖書館之一的藝術圖書館，優雅的環境令人感受到生活與藝術文化、書香為伴的自在與充實。
另外，鄰近鳳山站與大東站的鳳儀書院，是台灣現存規模最大且最完整的清朝古書院。甫修復完成的書院再現昔日建築風華，大型古裝Ｑ版人偶陳設其中，讓遊客輕鬆一窺古代教育與儒生科考的面貌。
高雄捷運紅線和橘線相交，各有不同旅遊特色與風貌等您來體驗！不妨來趟捷運藝術散步之旅，走逛公園綠地、品嚐美食小吃，體驗人文的奇妙旅程。為便捷遊客旅遊服務，高雄捷運除了一日遊、二日遊不限次數和里程的票卡外，結合觀光推出多種旅遊套票，暢遊港都的悠閒與自在。