This project emerged from an ongoing exploration of deconstruction and reconstruction, particularly in the context of numbers. While we have often worked with the familiar 7-segment display-a universal language of sorts, where everyone can recognise the number “3” regardless of where they are in the world-we wanted to push this concept further. What happens when we move beyond this familiar framework and look at how numbers are expressed in different parts of the world?

In this phase, we explored numerals from a wide array of languages and cultures, including Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Burmese, and Thai. Each of these languages represents numbers in distinct visual forms, shaped by cultural, historical, and linguistic differences. Our goal was to break these numeral systems down, much like we have done in previous projects, and then reconstruct them into abstract forms that blend various traditions of numerical representation.

However, this process quickly revealed the limitations of our own cultural lens. Coming from a Western, Eurocentric background, there are certain biases that unconsciously shape how we interpret the world. While we attempted to engage with numerals from diverse cultures, it became apparent that without a deeper understanding of each script, the project was limited to aesthetic experimentation. We could break down and reassemble the forms, but without the ability to read these scripts, we were left unsure if the new compositions still conveyed numerical meaning or had become something entirely abstract.

This project, then, remains a prototype-an exploration of the possibilities that lie in cross-cultural interpretations of numbers, but one that also acknowledges the need for further collaboration with individuals who have an intimate knowledge of these numeral systems. As we continue to develop the concept, we recognise that creating something truly meaningful in this space will require deeper engagement with these cultures, ensuring that the numbers we deconstruct and reconstruct retain their symbolic integrity.