Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei

The Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei (MOCA) is situated in the Datong District of Taipei. This museum has an interesting history, as its building dates back to 1921, when it was constructed during the period of Japanese rule. Originally, it served as the premises for Jiànchéng Elementary School. However, the school later relocated to a modern building, leaving the historical structure behind.

Following the transfer of Taiwan from Japanese rule to the Republic of China, this building had a change of purpose. It was used as the Taipei City Government offices and became a prominent landmark due to its distinct symmetrical design and a belltower in a historic architectural style. However, when the city government moved to a new location in the Xinyi district, the building was designated as a historical site.

On May 27, 2001, it was reopened as the Museum of Contemporary Art, marking a significant moment as it became the first museum in Taiwan exclusively dedicated to contemporary art.

Over the years, MOCA Taipei has grown to showcase both Taiwanese and international contemporary art under Director Shih Jui-jen's leadership. It collaborated globally, including organizing a solo exhibition for Taiwanese artist Yang Maolin at the Venice Biennale in 2009 and co-hosting the Animamix Biennial with MoCA Shanghai, Today Art Museum Beijing, and Guangdong Museum of Art in 2009 and 2010.

The current director, Loh Li-chen, continues to foster international connections while curating exhibitions that highlight both established local artists and emerging talents. In 2023, Director Loh Li-chen secured the first stop of a global tour for Banksy's iconic artwork "Love is in the Bin" at Taipei's Museum of Contemporary Art from July 1 to August 13, 2023.