I remember being taken to art galleries as a child, and I remember hating it. I don't care what I'm looking at -- being led over creaking floorboards through a procession of stuffy, dimly lit and too-small rooms is not my idea of a good time. Over the past few years, however, I have been able to visit some modern museums like Paris' Pompidou Center and the Tate Modern in London.

Places such as these are bold, bright, and, dare I say it, even fun. So with which group would the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts belong? With its imaginative design and architecture, it would have to be the latter.

Sharp, angular lines and a range of textiles give the museum its distinctive appearance. A patchwork of brightly colored marble tiles covers the main building, and in other places, bare concrete and metal cladding lend an industrial feeling. Exposed bolts and concrete that mimics the appearance of steel add an extra layer to the collage of diverse, yet harmonious elements.

Heavy open spaces and exposed white walls dominate the interior, creating the perfect environment in which to view the art on display. The museum displays work from its own collection and also shows the work of contemporary Taiwanese artists. Exhibitions are separated into different galleries, and they are shown for only a few months before being changed.

Before you look around inside, you really should take the time to walk through the gardens. Both beautiful and immaculately kept, the grounds are something of an oasis in the middle of Taichung. Sculptures, well-groomed hedgerows and trees decorate the pristine lawns; you can enjoy them all at your leisure by either walking on the paths or sitting on the benches around the site. You could easily spend a few hours here enjoying the grounds, and I don't think there are better places in Taichung to while away the afternoon.

Rather than just housing art, NTMOFA, as the museum is affectionately called by those in the know, also aims to inspire and educate. Its digital art program is just one way in which it reaches out to young artists and museum-goers.

There are a number of excellent educational programs, and to ensure that no one misses out, the museum actively sponsors visits by schools from isolated areas. There is a family room and, in addition to the library, there is also a comfortable picture-book area to help inspire and educate the museum's youngest visitors.

The National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts is both thoughtful and provocative. There is so much to see and do that I would be surprised if anyone could come away from here feeling anything less than completely satisfied.