‘Divided We Stand’ is a large-scale, visually compelling print from Jason Wallace’s Mathematical Signs and Symbols series, a body of work that uses mathematical notation as a visual language to examine human geometry; how we are shaped by, and in turn shape, our social, cultural, and psychological environments. At the center of this composition is a bold division symbol, rendered in 86 distinct colors. The palette draws from complementary and analogous color relationships, creating intentional tension and unexpected harmony. Each color quadrant represents a distinct intersection of masculine and feminine energies, inviting the viewer to engage with nuanced notions of duality, identity, and perception.

This work operates on both a formal and conceptual level. The precise geometry of the division sign suggests separation, opposition, or inequality; yet the diversity and arrangement of color resist this binary reading. Instead, Wallace proposes that division, paradoxically, can also be a site of cohesion. By placing elements that seemingly do not belong together side by side, the work highlights the fragile yet generative space where contrast becomes connection.

The sign and symbol call the viewer to consider the complexity of coexistence, how individuals, ideas, or identities that feel incompatible might nevertheless form a meaningful whole. At a broader level, Divided We Stand explores the psychological and social necessity of adaptability. It underscores the importance of learning to navigate both environments that reflect one’s own identity and those that feel foreign or disorienting. In doing so, the work positions adaptability, not sameness, as a condition for thriving within a diverse and often divided society.