Luck is not chance -It's Toil - Fortune's expensive smile, Is earned - The Father of the Mine, Is that old fashioned Coin, We spurned –

(Emily Dickinson, 1830-1886)

The exhibition takes its title from Dickinson’s poem, which redefines the concept of luck. Rather than seeing luck as a random occurrence, Dickinson suggests it is the result of effort and toil. Success, she implies, is not easily attained—it demands sacrifice and hard work. The poem also serves as a critique of how we often take for granted the effort and resources that underpin achievements.

Abstract painting often embraces randomness, spontaneity, and the unknown, much like the idea of luck or chance that Dickinson touches on in her poem. In abstract art, the creative process sometimes allows chance elements to play a significant role—whether it's the movement of paint, the spill of a colour, or the texture of materials. This "randomness" can create something beautiful and unexpected, but, as Dickinson suggests, it’s easy to overlook the effort that underpins the result. Just like the expensive smile of fortune in her poem, the outcomes of abstract art can seem to appear by chance, but behind that randomness is often a great deal of skill, experimentation, and thoughtful decision-making.