「駁二藝術家進駐計劃 (PAIR)」啟動於2015 年，以當代創作扶植、藝術教育推廣、國際交流及在地社群共好為核心精神，邀請世界各地藝術家進駐駁二藝術特區。2019年創辦「駁二浪宕計畫」，旨在串聯國際港灣城市藝文機構，關注城市與文化的流動性議題，開啟國際對話與合作。回望過去，駁二浪宕計畫以「浪宕」二字所蘊含的流動性與不確定性為起點，串連全球港灣城市之藝文機構，展開跨地域的議題探問；同時邀請在地空間與創作者深耕在地脈絡，回應高雄作為國際港灣的城市蛻變與歷史記憶，並藉由國際論壇建構跨國港口與工業城市間的駐村經驗交流平台。

今年度論壇與「高雄國際鋼雕藝術節」攜手，以高雄深厚的工業底蘊為起點，在城市持續擴展的動態歷程中，試圖觀照與重構當下的城市性格。「剛質」不僅指涉在地產業的物質屬性，亦表徵了文化與社群的韌性；而在「潮汐」般日夜交替的流動節奏中，藝文實踐以亦剛亦柔的姿態穿梭其間，跨界鏈結技術、勞動、材料與創作的網絡，為城市鍛造出未來樣態。

本屆論壇將聚焦於這股剛柔並濟的跨域動能：從在地創生與品牌的剛性扎根、港灣節慶與駐村的流動對話，以「水」與「剛」為生命介質的微觀職人誌，透過這些經驗的拼貼與辯證，共同為流動的港灣城市尋找嶄新的敘事座標。

The Pier-2 Artist-in-Residence (PAIR) program, launched in 2015, is grounded in the principles of supporting contemporary artistic creation, promoting arts education, fostering international exchange, and engaging local communities.

It invites artists from around the world to undertake residencies at the Pier-2 Art Center. In 2019, PAIR initiated the “Pier-2 Waving Waves Community (Pier-2 WWC)”, which aims to connect art and cultural institutions across international harbor cities, addressing issues of urban and cultural fluidity while fostering international dialogue and collaboration. Reflecting on its trajectory, Pier-2 Waving Waves Community used the fluidity and unpredictability of "waving waves" as a starting point to connect art institutions in port cities worldwide. It prompted cross-border conversations while encouraging local spaces and creators to anchor themselves in local context—echoing Kaohsiung’s evolution and historical memory as an international harbor city. The international forum further created a platform for sharing residency experiences across global port and industrial hubs.

Partnering with the Kaohsiung International Steel & Iron Sculpture Festival, this year's forum takes Kaohsiung’s rich industrial foundation as its springboard. Amid the city’s constant dynamic growth, it seeks to reflect on and reshape its current identity. "Rigidity" represents both the physical qualities of local industry and the resilience of its culture and community. In the tide-like rhythm of day-and-night flow, artistic practices move with a balance of toughness and grace—linking technology, labor, materials, and creative networks to forge the city’s future.

The forum centers on this dynamic blend of strength and softness: spanning the firm roots of local placemaking and branding, the fluid conversations of harbor festivals and residencies, and intimate artisan profiles centered on "water" and "solidity." Through these interwoven experiences, we together chart new narrative coordinates for an ever-moving harbor city.