Dennis Lin is excited to invite you to a viewing of recent works at his Toronto studio. The exhibition showcases a range of standalone projects that collectively reflect his cohesive art practice.

Rooted in a familial fracture, Dennis Lin’s recent work seeks to preserve fragments of a past that feel increasingly fragile. In an effort to signal his presence amidst a profound sense of alienation, Lin has collected and tended to culturally and personally nostalgic materials to rebuild ties to his heritage and its culture—a connection made even more urgent by the geopolitical pressures threatening the existence of Taiwanese identity.

From the fading legacy of his grandfather’s paper factory in Taiwan, Lin has reclaimed 8,000 kilograms of factory seconds—paper once destined for the landfill. In handling these materials, he reestablishes a connection to his family’s history and to Taiwan. Through careful manipulation, preservation, and presentation, the paper is transformed into sculptural works that strive to safeguard memory, history, and connection against the inevitable passage of time.

Incense weaves through Lin’s relief and mobile works, reconnecting him to a spirituality lost between generations. Suspended in time alongside the incense are charred children’s books and charcoal from the house fire he experienced in 2021, becoming acts of hope and prayer that embody Lin’s longing to restore what has been lost.

This body of work is equally concerned with the meticulous techniques of conservation and the emotional weight of hoarding—gathering, saving, and tending to what will otherwise be lost. His journey back to Taiwan and its history answers silent queries about his existence as a Taiwanese-Canadian, while his creative process merges with the profound and often painful legacy of his heritage.

Dennis Lin’s studio is located on Milky Way, an alleyway just south of Queen Street and West of Dufferin. If you need more detailed information on how to find the studio, please contact [email protected].