Curated by Lyra Tian | Co-curated by Erika Song

In an age where data defines truth and algorithms dictate rhythm, Soft Data: arrives as a quiet, persistent interruption — a refusal to be fully decoded.

Curated by Lyra Tian and co-curated by Erika Song, Soft Data: brings together 17 artists whose practices defy linear logic and precision. Their works hum with ambiguity, dissonance, emotional residue, and a resistance to quantification. Rather than seek clarity, this exhibition embraces the uncertain, the intuitive, the glitch — moments where communication breaks down and something more human leaks through. From distorted transmissions and unstable forms to contemplative slowness, each piece embodies one or more of the four guiding principles of the exhibition: uncertain language, unusual data, slow rhythm, and a persistent desire to feel the world beyond the algorithm. The exhibition’s strength lies in its refusal to resolve, inviting viewers to stay in liminal states,to pause inside transitions, and to honor emotional data as its own kind of intelligence.

With Soft Data:, Lyra Tian and Erika Song have created a space that doesn’t demand understanding, but presence. It is a call to slow down, feel more, and listen to what can’t be graphed.

Artists:
Alex Steggles · Cristian Fernandez Ocampo · Clara Smith · Dawei Li · Gabrielle Llewellin · Jena Huang · Jiawen Zin Zhang · Josefina Sumar · Judy Clarkson · Kay Mclafferty · Michalis Karaiskos · Rui Tao · Wonyoung Shim · Xiaohan Luo · Xinyue Gao · Zhenzhen Tian