Soft Grid: Public Reception

‘Soft Grid’ is a textile installation by fibre artist Shao-Chi Lin, inspired by her time as an artist-in-residence at Le Germain Hotel Toronto.

Developed during her stay at the hotel, Lin draws inspiration from the lobby’s changing light, the steady flow of guests, and the grid of the surrounding Entertainment District neighbourhood. Installed in the hotel’s lobby, the work translates these observations into a soft, measured rhythm. Rooted in Lin’s research into rhythm and iterative pattern, ‘Soft Grid’ bridges traditional craft and contemporary technique to create a meditative pause in the heart of the city. Aligned with Le Germain’s values of refined, unpretentious hospitality and design-led spaces that feel welcoming, the installation invites guests to slow down, take notice, and feel a sense of belonging.

Shao-Chi Lin is a Toronto-based fibre artist from Taiwan, who holds a Master of Fine Arts in Textiles from the Parsons School of Design. Lin transcends the structural limitations in weaving, exploring the possibilities of iterative events and patterns through woven structures. Guided by intuition and yet balanced with methodical discipline, her sculptures are meticulously crafted with woven textiles using paper yarn and natural dyes. In her sculptural exploration, Lin delves into ambiguous impressions and intuitive feelings evoked from engaging with the logical principles of waves. Her woven sculptures prompt communication between the two worlds of observed scientific facts and subjective understandings. The objective of her work is to awaken and nurture the acute sensory perceptions, inviting viewers to become more introspective of their own visceral responses, however subtle or delicate.

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‘Soft Grid’ is organized by DesignTO in partnership with Le Germain Hotel Toronto. The DesignTO Festival is supported by the Government of Ontario and the City of Toronto.

About DesignTO

DesignTO is a charitable arts organization celebrating 16 years of designing a sustainable, just, and joyful future. From January 23-February 1, 2026, the DesignTO Festival features 100+ free events and exhibitions across Toronto, showcasing hundreds of artists and designers. As Canada’s largest annual design festival, DesignTO has welcomed over 1 million attendees, reached 2.6 billion people through media, supported 7,000+ artists and designers, and generated $159 million in tourism impact since 2011.