Following the success of our earlier project, where we deconstructed numbers by slicing them diagonally at 45° angles and reassembling the pieces into new, hybrid forms, we felt inspired to push this concept further. In this next phase, we took the Latin alphabet and (again) explored a new form of deconstruction. Instead of cutting at angles, we divided each numeral into quarters-dissecting them vertically and horizontally before reassembling the pieces.

This process resulted in a highly abstract and fragmented representation of numbers. The quartered forms produced compositions that felt more chaotic and less anchored in their familiar structure compared to the simpler binary dissections from our previous project. While the effect is visually striking, evoking a sense of randomness and abstraction, the deeper connection to the original numbers felt less clear.

This exploration, which we’ve previously experimented with in more complex dissections, highlights the delicate balance between abstraction and recognition. The beauty of the earlier 45° cuts lay in their simplicity; the minimalistic approach allowed the numbers to retain their identity while opening up new visual possibilities. In contrast, quartering the numbers introduced a layer of complexity that diluted the connection to the numeric forms, making the result feel more abstract than intended.

While we have mixed feelings about the outcome, this experiment reinforces our belief that the strength of our work lies in the simplicity of binary dissections. The clean, diagonal cuts at 45° provided a clear sense of structure and balance between form and abstraction. This project, though more abstract, serves as a valuable exploration of how far we can push the boundaries of deconstruction, even if it leads us back to appreciating the power of simplicity.