On day 2 of my stay in Kaohsiung, I had recovered from my crazy day just before. I went out in the morning, and decided to go biking to Art 2 pier. Art 2 pier is a place where they have an open air exposition of “modern art”. I am not really a fan of modern art, but since it was a feature of the city, I decided however to take a look.
A lovely biking route
To get to Art 2 pier, you must ride along the harbor tram line. Not a lot of bikers or other people ride over there on a week day, so it was a quite relaxed ride, with interesting views.
For example, they are building right now a sort of “ship” which is supposed to be the center for cruise shipping (yeah, tourism never very far from Kaoshiung’s mind).
![Noah's ark in Kaohsiung.](https://visionsofasia.asia/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/img_5336.jpg)
A bit further, you come across the Kaohsiung harbor which they transformed into a biking lane. A very nice idea for a lovely place to come and take pics. But construction sites abound, so no real harbor activity to witness.
![Kaohsiung harbor and constructions](https://visionsofasia.asia/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Kaohsiung-1-30.jpg)
Meet Hero, the mascot of Kaohsiung
Later, as you are about to take the bridge which can be seen to the right of the picture below, you can meet a statue of “Hero”, the mascot of Kaohsiung. Somehow this bear resembles “Kumon”, the mascot of Kumamoto, in Japan. “Hero” is a way to give a “cute factor” to tourism in Kaohsiung.
![Hero, the mascot of Kaohsiung](https://visionsofasia.asia/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Kaohsiung-1-26.jpg)
These few sights, in themselves, already make the ride worthwhile heading to the Art 2 pier.
What is modern art?
I am a very classical guy in terms of art (see my previous post on the Helsinki museum). So understandably, when I see horrors like the thing below (complete with penis on display), I am bound to question its artistic value.
![Living nightmare](https://visionsofasia.asia/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/img_5349.jpg)
Of course, other people were trying to take some “funny” pictures in front of the other “artworks” in the area.
![Art 2 pier](https://visionsofasia.asia/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/532320908.501137.jpg)
I then tried a local specialty, the “Papaya milk” in a little library/stationery shop located close by.
![Papaya milk](https://visionsofasia.asia/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/img_5350-225x300.jpg)
After being done with the Art 2 pier, I headed back towards an MRT station, in order to drop my shopping at the hotel. In the afternoon, I would visiting the Dragon and Tiger Pagoda (which will be the object of an upcoming post!).
I was not too impressed with the Art 2 pier, but it sure has a touristic appeal. Nevertheless, go there only if you are a fan of modern art, otherwise, you may be less than impressed.