Unity is the most unique characteristic embedded in the foundation of all the Public Art Projects at the KRTC. The emphasis on combining the artistic design language and the architectural and civil engineering disciplines into one inseparably unified entity reflects in all our artworks. The Public Art Projects at the KRTC began at the Basic Design (BD) Stage; all the invited master artists, sharing their lifetime experience, worked with the architects and the engineers from the BD Stage through the Detailed Design Phase and during the Construction Phase.

By spending such an enormous amount of time and effort for our Public Art, because, the KRTC believes that simply by building a rapid transit subway system for the convenience of public transportation is not enough for our beloved Port-City. The KRTC hopes to take the lead by using the public art as a vehicle to inspire and transport people to a new millennium. It shall be a millennium filled with light and love!

People who are interested in Kaohsiung Metro system or public arts can book the tour guide service. Every group should have people in 5 and above. Everyone needs to purchase a KRTC one day pass (NT$200; deposit NT$70 can be refunded if return the card) to join the tour. Service hour: 09:00~12:00 and 14:00~17:00 (Monday to Friday)

Suggested Routes(5 routes)

A. Route A

Item	Station	Public Art Introduction	Suggested time to stay
1	R3 Siaogang Station	A Multidimensional Gathering Place Artist: Lung-Mu, Hung Interpretation Through cartoon and animation, Siaogang industrial district is transformed into a casual and amusing town, combining land, ocean and air into interactive images. There is a strong elephant with airplane wings, a freely soaring dolphin with feathers, a rapid horse cargo ship, a flying eagle with galloping horse legs, a leisurely swimming whale with wheels and rails and seabirds with fish tails. These images show the multidimensional nature of Siaogang district. When people stop to observe this amusing scene it helps to bring them closer to art and in so doing promotes social harmony.	About 20~25 minutes
2	R7 Shihjia Station	Happy Go Lucky in Shihjia Artist: Yi, Hung Interpretation “North lies the Wonnian Folklore Festival, South, have fun with Shihjia”. Shihjia Art festival in Kaohsiung City has become a renowned folk event. During the festival many internationally well known lion dancing troupes were invited to take part in a competition. That is why this work takes lion dancing as its theme, joyously following in the footsteps of the performers as they wander around the city, experiencing the excitement of Kaohsiung locals as well as fun and excitement unique to Shihjia culture.	About 10~15 minutes
3	R8 Sanduo Shopping District Station	Ocean Heart Artist：Tsun-Tsun, Lai Interpretation The rich and free flow of the colored lighting in “Ocean Heart” is reflected in the “The Eye of the MRT”. In this bright eye infused with love we see the deep emotions of Kaohsiung; the ocean, glistering light waves, sky, voyages, sweat, and laughter. A mermaid enjoys the energetic and fashionable Sanduo Shopping District Station and shares our common memories. This graceful and leisurely creature informs us that the oceans of the world require our love and compassion. Remembrance of the Arts – Relaxation Tour Artist: Yi, Hung Interpretation The southernmost terminal for the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit Siaogang Station was originally the connection point between the harbor and its hinterland. Its significance and value expresses the origins of Kaohsiung’s culture and history in the ocean. This explains why the people of Kaohsiung consider the ocean an inseparable part of their heritage. With that in mind, this work adopted the “fish” as its creative motif. In this piece, the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit allows the fish to swim from the ocean into Sanduo Shopping District Station and mingle with the crowd window shopping. The work expresses itself through the overlapping of time and space, special timeless scenery. Together with the use of amusing and humorous methods of expression, this offers people a new interpretation of understanding of the ocean.	About 25~30 minutes
4	R11 Kaohsiung Main Station	Old Harbor, New Rapid Transit Artist: Yang-Tze, Tong Interpretation Kaohsiung Station is filled with memories of people reuniting and departing, and is also a local landmark with great historical meaning. With the establishment of the Metro Rapid Transit system, the hundred years old Kaohsiung Station has undergone radical transformation and innovation. In earlier times, Taiwan’s economy boomed and living standards slowly improved, but precious natural resources and cultural history also slowly disappeared. At the intersection between new and old eras, we are making big strides into the future, without forgetting about the past. To this end, artist cite a saying by Lao Tze in the Tao Te Ching “Know white, guard black” as artist’s main creative inspiration. Although we may know what is pure and bright, we still walk slowly forward with great humility, sometimes disregarding what we have learned in the past and with an open-mind to learning new things. This reminds us that we need a strong historical foundation before looking to the future. We can only see the beauty of life if we find a balance between the past and the present.	About 15~20 minutes


B. Route B

Item	Station	Public Art Introduction	Suggested time to stay
1	R12 Houyi Station	Abundance Artist: Jui-Chang, Liao Interpretation “Abundance” was inspired by natural organic plants. The artist pictured images from spring, using leaves, flowers and seeds and transforming them into random biomorphic abstractions. This work was created to represent a scene of vital nature. The artist believes that organic objects and shapes such as seeds, coral and cocoons are symbols of the beginning and continuation of life. These familiar objects can be seen as a basic structure expressing an emotional desire to communicate with people. The artist views “Abundance” as a subject and hopes that the work will infuse natural images into a busy and crowded metropolis, making Houyi Station a place of vitality and vigor.	About 20~25 minutes
2	R14 Kaohsiung Arena Station	Taiwan Sunrise Artist: Cola King Interpretation The work combines circular photography with digital imaging technology, skillfully incorporating the distinctive surrounding environment into the station. It also includes past, present and future impressions of the city, simultaneously presenting images of large tracts of agricultural land that was replaced by residential towns and grew into a new cultural city of the future.	About 10~15 minutes
3	R15 Ecological District Station	The Wizard of Oz Artist: Winnie Yang Interpretation This work uses the concept of "crossing through", to express the relationship between ceramic fresco and natural environment. The "door" that separates reality and fantasy represents a portal in time and space, just as passengers on Kaohsiung’s new rapid transit line witness rapid changes in landscape.	About 25~30 minutes
4	R16 Zuoying Station	Flow．Play / Contemporary Wanderings Ink Plays of an Ancient City Artist: Yu-Ming, Liu．Rui-Xiang, Guo．Wu-Cheng, Lin Interpretation This work mainly contemplates contemporary artistic expression, compressing different events in the natural landscape of Lotus Lake in Zuoying into a synchronized time structure. It also showcases a sudden stillness, using the still image to express dynamic realism that is fun and surreal. The theme of traditional and contemporary market squares overlap, creating a canvas on which images of the ancient city of Zuoying constantly change with the passing of time.	About 15~20 minutes


C. Route C

Item	Station	Public Art Introduction	Suggested time to stay
1	R22 Chinpu Station	Listen to the Voice of Cloud with Lightening / Mapping the Rainbow Land Artist: Ming-Hung, Yen Interpretation Viewing at the top of Chinpu station with bird’s eye view to observe citizens and environment, finding the initial special appearances, extract the unreal imagination, restoring the emotions and memories, under the sunshine, it reflects the imaginary beautiful phantasm – the time scale, just like the beating musical notations reflect to the surroundings. Listening to Cloud-Light 02 Artist: Pey-Chwen, Lin Interpretation The theme of the work is to offer people a fraction of peace and tranquility, as well as aesthetic experience among daily transportation. With iridescent sunlight sieving through the cloud-shaped installation, it is more than a place people can refresh themselves but also a place to contemplate on local culture and harmonious coexistence with nature.	About 20~25 minutes
2	R22A Ciaotou Sugar Refinery	The Land of Sugar and Home of Butterflies Artist: Hong-Ying, Guo．Zheng-Yu ,Yang．Hui-Lin, Qiu．Zhen-Qi, Wang． Xuan-Yu, Chen．Qing-Fang, Lin．Yao-Xuan, Ding．Qian-Fang, Yang．Mo-Jun, Huang and Jia-Qi, Wang. Interpretation The original artwork (watercolor) was done collectively by 10 SEEDS – young college students, graduates of the KRTC Public Art Seeds Program, average age 20 years old. This unique artwork is printed on 36M long and 1.2M high glass balustrade by PMI, the same fabricator for the R17 station. The artwork has encapsulated the 100-year history of the sugar plantation and the sugar industry in Southern Taiwan. It is infused with the youthful hope and promise to a future for their Homeland. The time and effort dedicated by the KRTC staff for the SEEDS displays the true meaning of Love for our children. Three Passages to the Time Tunnel- A kind of Territory Leaps to Aesthetics Artist: Ming Hung, Yen Interpretation Three paths(sugar cane railway, railway and MRT (mass rapid transit railway); three kind of tenses (past, present and future); three totems (early Japanese governing time, a generation of middle-ages in literature and history, today's MRT transport); three positions; three areas of landscape (sugar refinery, forest and MRT transport); three groups of populace (resident, people from other place and person of different opinions by speaking out) - a central of bond collection (circle space). The public art of this station creates landscape type environmental image which reflects the passing history of sugar refinery, with the spool pulls out the area space that corresponds with the subject. The work selects the model of three positions geometry to create space territory which links the generatrix direction that separately aims at the area of tripartite historical space in architectural complex. The artist use the local culture image to represent the cultural gene: the marble part---dwelling office; the log part---the rain-drenched board for old stall official residence; cast-aluminum part---resident community with MRT station building. The work use burned red-brick fragment from Kaohsiung hundred years kiln yard -"three tiles kiln" as the main body's material to re-condense for casting. The three parts of the main body pick the concavo-convex masculine and feminine elements that form the metaphor time path--- possible to sit on the floor, molds the territory with cultural contains, create the square---to be closed, waiting to dialogue, plays the communication and combine the memory of landscape image.	About 10~15 minutes
3	R23 Ciaotou Station	Divine Labor Leads the Industrialization Artist: Pang-Hsiung, Chu Interpretation The ceramic mural is designed by Dr. Chu and fabricated in his own studio – the Mei-Noun-Kiln. The mural is measuring 12M high and 10M wide. The depicted theme is a tribute to the industrial port-city of Kaohsiung. The ceramic mural public art is combing a multiple range of arts, design, ceramic engineering, and technology. The modernized new artistic culture is an incredible work formed by those elements. The song composed by the artist for Ciaotou is used the concept of “Heaven” to describe the beauty of “Earth and Humanity”. Abundance Artist: Pey-Chwen, Lin Interpretation Through the curves and shape of the artwork to strengthen the softness but rich idea of changing life energy in Ciaotou district. When passengers walking in the path toward Kaohsiung Metro, it represents the meaning of passing through the picture of the libidinal natural environment. When passengers walking back from Kaohsiung Metro, it represents the totem of villages’ local culture.	About 25~30 minutes


D. Route D

Item	Station	Public Art Introduction	Suggested time to stay
1	O1 Sizihwan	Indigenous Dancers Artist: Chen-Ping, Dawn Interpretation The dancing figures raise their arms toward the skies as if greeting the wind, floating between land and sea. The vibrant colors and flashes of contrasting light and darkness interrelate with the rolling waves of Sizihwan. Within the panes of fusing glass is the central theme where transparent and opaque colors of indigo, peach, orange, and lemon upon a white background are used to depict the water, earth, wind, and fire to emphasize the joyous interaction between people and their environment of Sizihwan.	About 20~25 minutes
2	O2 Yanchengpu Station	Taiwan Cider - Salt Yard Recall Artist: Dean-E, Mei Interpretation “Taiwan Cider” takes images from the past as its artistic medium. The essence is to ensure viewers recall ancient memories and focus on sharing conscious identity about Salt Yard. “Salt Yard Recall” flash back to the prosperity of the salt flats that existed in Kaohsiung since 50 years ago as its point of origin. In this context, “Recall” refers to arise the past of ordinary life style. The people seen in the picture are based on old photographs of local salt flats. Although it retains their original appearance but the features have been changed. In the background those old buildings are no longer exist, such as Kaohsiung theater, old market Hall, Kaohsiung City Hall (today’s Museum of History), Kaohsiung State Building, Lao-Hsing-Ye Cooperative Bank and harbor warehouses etc. This work is based on a “post- modernism” idea to create a montage scene, using computer graphic technique to combine life styles of different time. The stage-like effect is to create a sense of unadorned simplicity, a unified aesthetic that blends together historical diversity. This work attempts to take the remnants of collective memories and to capture the glory of faded days. Let the “public subject of history” becomes interesting attention.	About 10~15 minutes
3	O7 Cultural Center Station	Movement of Spirits Artist: Yi-Hsun, Lee Interpretation The artist takes depictions of the traditional Eight Immortals as his creative starting point. In Taiwanese folk customs, the Eight Immortals is a diverse and auspicious group to be celebrated. Their many characteristics are taken to represent all levels of society and they have long been a popular favorite, which is why their images are often hung over the lintel of doors when buildings are finished or at wedding ceremonies. The main characters in the pictures are innocent children full of energy, who like the Earth Spirit bring us joy and sweet surprises. Riding on the backs of eight symbolic animals from land and sea, holding traditional Nankuan and Western musical instruments, these images represent exchange between Eastern and Western cultures. The Eight Immortals were originally ordinary people who worked tirelessly before achieving deity and as such they are the perfect model for people in today’s world, teaching us all that only through hard work and dedication can our dreams come true.	About 25~30 minutes
4	O10 Weiwuying Station	Love Tower Artist: Chen-Ping, Dawn Interpretation The artist utilizes a play on words as a way of incorporating distinctiveness into his work. When the characters are flipped about, it is only then that they bring different, unpredictable, and unexpected surprises. The history of Weiwuying gave the artist a powerful sense of vitality and justice. His choice of people, horses, and words as artistic elements and the way they develop into “the rider and the castle” allude to such ideas as the breadth of love and charity. The use of language suggests the giving and sacrifice of love, the acceptance that love has the power to change anything.	About 15~20 minutes


E. Route E

Item	Station	Public Art Introduction	Suggested time to stay
1	O11 Fongshan West Station	The Legend of the Phoenix Artist: Sheng-Chien, Hsiao Interpretation The phoenix, spiraling in the sky, lands lightly on the ground. Its symbolic meaning reflects the legend of Fongshan. The stainless pipes correspond to the steel and glass designs at the entrance of the Metro. The simple and flowing lines resemble Chinese calligraphy, reflecting oriental scenes and cultural icons; however, it also adds a touch of warmth to the cold feeling of metal and glass. This work can produce beautiful sound of maracas while interacting with travelers on the spot. Like singing and dancing with the phoenix, it encloses the distance between citizens and artworks. This three dimensional design presents beauty that can be appreciated from various angles. The phoenix has landed at the entrance and will soar into the sky from the exit. It brings good fortune to passengers who are leaving on a journey or returning home. It always leads us in the right direction.	About 20~25 minutes
2	O12 Fongshan Station	Light in the Firmament Artist: Wen-Yung, Huang．Kuang-Pai, Cheng Interpretation The purpose of the design is to recall the spirit of reclamation of our ancestors. The warm spotlights, splendid colors and clear images all unveil the epic story of their hardship in Fongshan. From the “Love of Universe” installed in the work center, the tree of life rises like a flying dragon, symbolizing the eternal endeavors of mankind. The power of the Ocean, Sun, Moon and Land extends from the flowers to the firmament. The totem of the round Datura signifies the spiritual source and presents the energy of fishing, hunting, pasturing and farming. Fish frolic in the ocean, animals rest on the riverbank at the foot of mountain, birds fly and flocks of deer graze in the meadow. All of the farmers work in the field. The conch, hunter, goat and spikes of rice are the representative images of laboring, in the collective unconscious of human beings. The spotlight of thought symbolizes remembrance and the colorful emotions form an atmosphere of life. Under the noble and magnificent firmament, the amazing dance of light narrates the story of our ancestors and their struggle for reclamation.	About 10~15 minutes
3	O13 Dadong Station	The Phoenix brings Propitiously Artist: Ming-Te, Lu．I-Fen, Kuo Interpretation The phoenix, a symbol of good fortune in Chinese mythology, is a sacred, immortal, and elegant creature. It is particularly graceful when it dances. Ancient people believed that a phoenix would only appear during peaceful, prosperous times. Hence, numerous mountains, rivers, and towns were named Phoenix in pursuit perfection and bliss.	About 25~30 minutes
4	O14 Fongshan Junior High School Station	The Spread of History Artist: Ta-Chien, Pan Interpretation The spread of history radiates from the center in all directions. Fongshan was built by our ancestors and its remaining walls have formed a heart-shaped relic. The architectural concept applied was based on the ripples of history; the development of Fongshan radiates from a concentric circle. The round table in the middle symbolizes the history of Fongshan; this circle extends to the patterns of the phoenix and then forms an image of completion. The pavement patterns were formed with hand-made colorful mosaic tiles and reveal the footprints of our ancestors while they were constructing Fongshan. Seven small round shapes were inlaid into the round table and the central Chinese flowering crabapple is the symbol of Fongshan; six portraits reveal the city, and appear to smile in benevolent satisfaction with modern life.	About 15~20 minutes

Ps: The suggested routes above are for reference only. You may change the stations according to your group schedule. If you have any other inquiries about the stations not been mentioned above, please feel free to give us a call before you make the online reservation.