Image: Luka Or. Photo: Luka Or
Luka Or’s exhibition 'What Luck – A Contemporary Take on the Hamsa' is scheduled to open on 8 October 2026 and close on 21 November 2026. The exhibition is curated by Galina Arbeli.
Or approaches the hamsa through a process of deconstructing and reassembling the familiar amulet, which embodies luck, hope and protection in culture, into a series of contemporary objects.
The first hamsa in the series was created in the days immediately following October 7. Without a prior plan, and between trips to the shelter, Or sketched in his notebook, sewed models on a sewing machine, and continued to develop and design. For Or, this sustained engagement with objects of luck and protection was a way to find a ray of light amid the chaos, grounded in the belief that hope is an active pursuit.
Since then, Or has dedicated every free moment to creating dozens of additional hamsot, which together form what feels like a group exhibition by a single artist. The works vary in materials and scales, with some serving as conceptual sketches and others as finished objects.
The works challenge conventional perceptions of the hamsa by translating the familiar icon’s two-dimensional contours into objects with presence, movement and optimism; several incorporate kinetic elements and hidden mechanisms that transform the traditional format into a dynamic object engaging with space. Identified works include 'Hamsa 360', made from wood and metal castings, and 'Hamsa Printer', a mixed-media work incorporating a thermal printer, sensors, a controller and 3D printing. The exhibition page also identifies the 2026 work 'Dance', made with video and mixed media.
