在數位娛樂尚未普及的年代，電影曾是大眾最重要的娛樂形式。戲院林立，百家爭鳴，觀眾絡繹不絕。為了吸引群眾進場，片商與戲院特別聘請專業畫師創作各式各樣的海報與手繪看板。這些作品色彩鮮明、構圖誇張，往往在觀眾尚未踏入戲院之前，就已經引發對電影劇情的無限想像。

當時街頭的廣告看板不只是宣傳工具，更是城市景觀的一部分。哪一部電影最受歡迎？哪位明星最新登場？人們透過看板交換消息、討論話題，戲院外牆便成為大眾日常生活的一面「文化布告欄」。手繪看板讓黑漆漆的戲院宛如萬花筒般，在街頭反射出一個又一個絢爛奪目的故事。

與今日影城內部統一張貼的印刷海報相比，過去的手繪看板更具有鮮明個性。每一位畫師都有獨特的筆觸與風格：有人善於誇張人物表情，有人重視打鬥場面，有人則把西方巨星畫得如同就在觀眾眼前，這些作品不僅僅是複製劇照，更是流行藝術的創作，這份結合技術與靈感的工作，使得手繪看板在許多資深影迷的記憶裡，至今仍熠熠生輝。

本次展覽以「手繪電影看板畫師」為核心，期望重新喚起市民對戲院與電影文化的熱情，也讓觀眾體驗人與影像互動的多樣方式。展場分為數個子題，包括「戲院與看板」、「高雄看板畫師簡介」、「畫家工作環境」與「電影看板軼事」等，邀請各位觀眾進入電影館，從不同角度感受舊時電影氛圍，無論是展出的立體看板、珍貴影星照片，抑或是畫師訪談與技法展示，希望大家都能進到看板藝術的世界。

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Before the age of digital entertainment, movies were once the most popular form of leisure. Theaters filled the streets, audiences gathered in great numbers, and competition among cinemas was fierce. To draw people inside, studios and theaters commissioned artists to create bold, hand-painted posters and billboards. With their vivid colors and dramatic compositions, these works often sparked the audience’s imagination long before the film began.

On city streets, billboards were more than advertisements—they became part of the urban landscape. Which film was the talk of the town? Which star was making a debut? People read the boards as cultural noticeboards, exchanging news and sharing excitement. In this way, painted billboards transformed the dark façades of theaters into kaleidoscopes of dazzling stories.

Unlike today’s mass-printed posters, hand-painted boards carried the distinctive style of each artist. Some exaggerated expressions, others highlighted action scenes, and some made Hollywood stars appear almost within reach. These works were not simple reproductions of stills, but lively creations of popular art. Blending skill and imagination, they remain a shining memory for many longtime moviegoers.

This exhibition invites visitors to rediscover the vibrant culture of theaters and cinema. Divided into themes such as “Theater and Billboard,” “Kaohsiung Billboard Artists,” “The Artists' Workspace,” and “Billboard Stories,” the show offers multiple perspectives on this unique art form. From large-scale billboards and rare star photographs to artist interviews and technique displays, we welcome you to step into the colorful world of billboard art.