"Forgive this unaccomplished self."— Battle City II: Economic Miracle
This June, Neiwei Arts Center in Kaohsiung welcomed artist Chang Li-Ren, recipient of the 2009 Kaohsiung Award, back to the city with his exhibition Re: Battle City. The exhibition runs until October 26 and is free to the public. In addition to recreating Battle City: The End, which drew widespread attention at the MoNTUE Museum of Art in 2024, the exhibition also premieres the first chapter of Chang's newly reimagined Battle City animation series, Taiwan's Pride (New Game+).
Contents
◦ A Creative Journey That Runs Counter to Success
It had been a long time since an exhibition gave me goosebumps. The exhibition space itself is not large, yet I spent more than two hours there, happily losing myself in its vast and intricate universe.
Visitors can step up to the exhibition's most eye-catching attraction—a miniature city—and gaze down upon its streets from a godlike perspective, becoming a giant who seems to control everything. Or they can enter the screening room and watch Battle City, a stop-motion animation created from the very same models, experiencing what it feels like to be trapped within the city, small and insignificant as a speck of dust. Including an intermission, the screening lasts about one hour and twenty minutes. I highly recommend setting aside time to watch it. Otherwise, the models remain merely models, and much of their meaning may be lost.
What truly gave me goosebumps was learning that Chang Li-Ren spent fourteen years building this entire world from scratch—largely on his own. From model-making, scriptwriting, storyboarding, editing, and voice acting to sculpting the puppets themselves, he did it all.
His creative journey, one with no clear beginning or end in sight, stands in stark contrast to society's obsession with speed, efficiency, and conventional success. I imagine that even without deadlines imposed by others, there must have been moments throughout those long years when he hit creative walls, struggled through periods of doubt, and could no longer see the finish line ahead. Perhaps during those moments, the phrase "forgive this unaccomplished self" echoed through his mind again and again.
◦ Visitor Information and Tips
Because each time slot has a strict visitor limit, the overall viewing experience feels comfortable and well-managed. Admission is available through either advance reservations or on-site waiting. Since it is currently the peak summer season, I strongly recommend booking online in advance to avoid long waits. A friend of mine decided to visit on a whim and ended up waiting nearly fifty minutes to enter—a testament to the exhibition's immense popularity.
Please also note that food and drinks, including water, are not allowed inside the exhibition space. Bags larger than A4 size must be checked, so bringing a small bag for your phone and wallet is recommended.
◦ Exhibition Information
Artist: Chang Li-Ren
Exhibition: Re: Battle City
Dates: June 6, 2026 – October 26, 2026
Venue: Neiwei Arts Center, Kaohsiung
Reservations: Free admission by reservation. Each reservation QR code allows up to four visitors to enter together. Visitors must check in within 30 minutes of their reserved time slot.
➤ August Reservations
➤ September Reservations