Written/Compiled and Reported by Chen Guanxin, MOOK Travel Life Network
The annual "2013 Kaohsiung International Container Art Festival" is on display at the Pier-2 Art Center in Kaohsiung from now until February 16, 2014. This year, eight groups of domestic and international architects and spatial designers have showcased prototype works in practice, connecting containers with creativity and daily life.
This year’s Kaohsiung Container Art Festival emphasizes "habitable" container spaces, once again reminding people of the pursuit of housing justice and achieving self-renewal and urban renewal. (Image provided by Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts)
This year's "2013 Kaohsiung International Container Art Festival – Habitable," attempts to re-examine the characteristics of containers and potential future trends in human society, proposing a new direction for container art—"habitable" container spaces. Multiple domestic and international architect and spatial design teams were invited to propose and build prototype livable container spaces, putting into practice the concept of "life design meets container architecture." These are exhibited at the Pier-2 Art Center, transforming containers into an interface linking creative design with living spaces. Participating teams include Flash International Co., Ltd.: Chang Chia-hsuan; Architect Chang Le-ching: Chang Le-ching; Chen Tzu-hao; Architect Huang I-ching Office: Huang I-ching; Architect Lin Chih-feng Office: Lin Chih-feng; Wang Chi-chen; KUANG RICHIE TSAI Design Workshop; HUANG Chien-jung; RKHE-N-SPACES Architects: Eric Cassian; Sou Fujimoto Architects: Sou Fujimoto; and Mecanoo Architecten: Francine Houben + Folkert van Houten.
Hsieh Pei-ning, Director of the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, stated that the Container Art Festival is a crucial project for the museum. Containers themselves are not only tools for goods transportation, but the greatest hope for this festival is to move beyond pure artistry and get closer to everyday life. Each container in this edition has a building usage permit, truly making them—as the theme suggests—"habitable." The participating architects are all top-notch, including internationally renowned teams as well as collaborators from southern Taiwan. Every piece of work transcends aesthetics and offers practicality. The festival also serves to remind people once again of the pursuit of housing justice, encouraging self-renewal and urban renewal.
Cultural Affairs Bureau Director Shih Che said that this Container Art Festival is the exhibition closest to the sea. For Kaohsiung, a port city, containers and the harbor are its defining features. Hosting the exhibition by the harbor brings the containers back to where they belong. The success of this year’s Container Art Festival is no longer just about container design, but also represents a significant statement by Pier-2—the nation’s largest art experimental zone.
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