Cut out the two identical, imperfect rectangles shown here—each missing two corners. Follow the lines to divide them into four geometric pieces… Then try to reassemble them into one perfect rectangle.
Sounds simple? Think again! Solve it? Tell us what made it such a brain-bender!
I’ve always had a passion for puzzles made of simple geometric pieces—especially those that seem almost impossible to solve despite the deceptively simple shapes and limited number of elements. As an Op Art artist, I find these visual enigmas a delight not only for the eye but also for the mind. For someone drawn to minimalism like me, beauty lies not just in pure form, rules, or apparent simplicity, but in the very intention of the game: to create something concrete and well-defined out of very little. And yet, at first glance, the pieces rarely seem to match the information at hand—as if something’s always missing, or as if the pieces resist aligning with your will.
Back in the ’80s, I created numerous puzzles with these paradoxical traits—some even became worldwide hits. When people would say, “Ah, so you’re the creator of that devilish puzzle?” I would always reply, “No, not a puzzle, but a piece of optical art.” Or: “No, not a puzzle, but a visual paradox.” Or sometimes: “No, not a puzzle, but a moment of zen-like reflection.”
No, I’ve never created puzzles—but rather works that turn geometry into visual meditation.
⇨ More visual enigmas to create.
