Tainan Art Museum in Tainan

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The Tainan Art Museum opened in 2019 and quickly became one of the city's main sights. It has two buildings a short walk apart. Building 1 is a restored 1930s police station. Building 2 is a new building by the Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, with a white roof made of pentagon shapes. Together they show Taiwanese art from the last hundred years and the work of Tainan's own artists.

Building 2

Building 2 is the modern heart of the museum. It was designed by Shigeru Ban, a Japanese architect who won the Pritzker Prize, working with a Taiwanese firm. The building is a stack of white boxes of different sizes, covered by a large roof made of pentagon-shaped frames. The roof breaks up the strong sun and casts patterns of light and shade on the terraces below. Plants grow on the terraces, and from the top floors there are views over the city. The building itself is reason enough to visit.

Building 1

Building 1 is a few minutes' walk away. It was built in the 1930s as Tainan's police headquarters, during the period of Japanese rule. It was carefully restored and joined with a new wing to become a gallery. The old building has art deco details, long hallways and an inner courtyard. Today it holds exhibitions on Taiwanese art history, with works from the early 20th century onward. The mix of old and new design makes it a pleasant contrast to Building 2.

The collection

The museum focuses on art from Taiwan, and especially from Tainan and the south. Its collection includes painting, ink work, sculpture, photography and contemporary art. Exhibitions change regularly, and many shows feature young Taiwanese artists. There are also programmes and spaces for children. Labels are in Chinese and English. Most visitors spend one to two hours in Building 2 and around an hour in Building 1. A single ticket usually covers both buildings, but check at the desk, as special shows may be priced separately.

The neighbourhood

The museum sits in the old centre of Tainan, close to many other sights. Hayashi Department Store, a restored 1930s department store, is a short walk away and sells local food, design goods and crafts. The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is also nearby. Small food shops and cafés line the side streets. This makes the museum a good base for a half-day walk. The area is flat and compact, and public bikes are easy to find. Walking between the two museum buildings and the department store takes only a few minutes.

Planning a visit

Like most museums in Taiwan, the Tainan Art Museum is usually closed on Mondays, so check before you go. The galleries are air-conditioned, which makes it a good choice for the hottest part of the day. The rooftop terraces of Building 2 are best in the late afternoon, when the sun is lower and the light through the roof is softer. The museum shop and café are in Building 2. Large bags may need to go in lockers. Weekday mornings are the quietest time to visit.

Tainan Art Museum at a glance

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