Do you know who invented the Rubik's Cube? We do.
As an assistant professor in his home city of Budapest, Ernõ Rubik initially designed several 3D puzzles in the mid-‘70s as an attempt to give his students a ‘true feel for abstraction and complexity’. Within a few years of successfully constructing and patenting what is now his most famous puzzle, Rubik’s Cube became a global phenomenon with over 100 million sales in the first two years alone. But most intriguing is the fact that over the past 40 years it hasn’t lost its allure – it remains one of the world’s best-selling puzzles and stands today as an emblem of the logical mind.
The interactive science-tech exhibition Beyond Rubik’s Cube has landed in Shanghai bringing with it a whole battery of multi-sensory experiences and digital challenges touching on everything from robotics and engineering to arts and music.
Ahead of the Mainland arrival of the exhibition, we spoke to the man himself about his Cube’s legacy and resilience in the digital age, ‘speed-cubing’ and what he hopes the exhibit will bring to his fans in China.
The Rubik’s Cube has to be the most popular and well-known puzzle in the world. When you designed it, did you ever imagine you’d still be asked about it 40 years later?
All I knew at the time was that I happened on something extremely interesting and quite original. I never thought that this would become ‘the best-selling product ever’ – but then nobody else predicted it either. It was extremely difficult to find an international distributor for the cube and even the most bullish predictions calculated only one million units to be sold. During the 18 months of the original craze in 1980-81, over 100 million cubes found a buyer! The fact that it is still widely popular today is also fascinating. It has truly gained an iconic status, not just as a toy, but also as a cultural symbol for problem-solving intelligence and complexity.
Most of all, however, the Cube remains successful because its challenge was not replaced by video games and kids still love playing with it. Speed-cubing became a global phenomenon, with hundreds of competitions taking place every year all around the world. It inspires innovation: ever more efficient robots are introduced to solving Cubes; people take the Cube deep under the ocean or far out in space. Apparently, the Cube is here to stay for a long time still.
That said, nowadays there are loads of copy cats and variations. Are there any you secretly like?
Oscar Wilde said: "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." The abundance of fakes only shows the unwavering appeal of the original. Not all fakes are the same, though; most of them are simply bad-quality, sometimes even toxic products to be sold on the streets. When we protect our brand, we also try to protect consumers from such disappointing or even harmful fakes.
In the way of the ever-growing community of competitive cubers, however, some manufactures have tried to build sports-cubes, which enable competitors to solve the Cube in just a few seconds. As a matter of fact, I am now working to provide the best such Cube, and make it available for a much wider audience by also making speeding-cubing a real sport with better organisation, funding and visibility.
You’re best known for the Cube, but you’re also a scholar, a sculptor, a designer, an architect – in terms of your professional life, what are you most proud of?
I never pursued fame or success; I have been fortunate enough to follow my interests and go where my curiosity takes me. I look at my creations like parents look at their children: I closely follow their lives, successes or difficulties – but I remain conscious that it is their story, not mine. The Cube certainly overshadows some of my other designs, like the Snake or Rubik’s Magic. Still, those are very interesting products on their own right and have reached considerable success in the trade as well. As an architect, I have always focused on building private homes, not public projects, so my success is hidden in the happiness of families living in the houses I designed.
What aspect of your professional life are you most focused on right now? Are you working on anything special?
I never discuss current projects, because that may create expectations. Some projects get abandoned, some transform into something else entirely. As I am getting older, I am focusing more on the theoretical aspects of life and less on developing specific products. I am also working on a book to provide an understanding of how the Cube came about; the reasons for its success, prevalence and persistence over four decades. This project leads me to discuss some of the basic questions of human existence: what motivates us? What gives us pleasure? What connects us? And many more…
You’ve also founded quite a few academic establishments. Are there fields you believe all people should study in their lifetimes?
It is not the field of study that really matters, but the attitude to learning. People blessed with genuine curiosity and the drive to ask questions all over again with hope for a more rewarding life experience. Learning by doing is more precious than learning by repetition – whatever field of study you pursue.
Alongside the exhibition you’ll be visiting China for the first time. What are you hoping to see and experience?
I have always had a great interest of Chinese culture and the mind-boggling economic development this country has achieved in the new millennium. I am looking very much forward to experiencing some of it first hand, and to the personal encounters this journey will bring.
Why do you think Shanghai is a good place for Beyond Rubik's Cube?
'We have built this exhibition to bring science closer to the people - especially children. The energy, perseverance and eagerness to learn is palpable in China, where the Cube is already present in thousands of schools across the country. I am delighted that Shanghai is the first venue in China to host Beyond Rubik’s Cube on its Asian tour.'
What’s a project you want to complete or a challenge you still what to overcome?
It has always been a search for the right question, identifying the most exciting problem that was at the core of all my projects, be it a new puzzle, a new institution or a new home to be built. As such, the projects are never quite ‘complete’, because you can always dig deeper into the original questions behind them. I have strived to find the best answer available for me. In life generally, just as with the Cube and its practically endless combinations, I encourage everyone to find their own solutions!
Is there a puzzle out there that you haven’t been able to solve?
'Life is a puzzle. I haven’t quite figured it out – yet.'
Beyond Rubik's Cube is showing at Shanghai Global Harbor Museum until February 26 (everyday except Monday). Click 'read more' at the bottom of this page to purchase tickets.
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