When professor Ernõ Rubik finally solved the structural problem of creating a cube whose individual parts were able to move, he inadvertently created what is now the world’s best-selling toy. Now, nearly 40 years after the Rubik’s Cube first popped up in stores in Hungary, its creator has brought his massive exhibition, Beyond Rubik’s Cube, to Global Harbor Museum.
What’s been your happiest moment with the cube?
There were two important moments. One was when the structure was finally working, especially since it seemed so difficult to make. Getting it to work and understanding the basics was a very good feeling.
Before I had the working model, I was concentrating so much on the technical issues that I didn't actually have a solution to the cube. When it was made, I had to think about ways to solve it. I felt quite happy when I eventually found a practical solution.
Do you still play the cube now?
Occasionally. When I started playing, I was the fastest because no one else was able to do it. Then I got distracted by many other things… To do it well you need time and practice, just like other sports. If you want to do it professionally, you need to concentrate on it.
What is your record?
I don’t have a record. To have a record means you’re looking for a record. I never record myself.
Does somebody have to be clever to solve the Rubik's Cube?
Not being able to solve a Rubik's Cube doesn't mean you're not smart. It's just a test of one thing, and no one is good at everything. There's a misconception that girls don't do well with them, but that's not true. Most young ‘cubers’ I've seen are girls and many are Chinese. That perception is changing now.
What other projects are you working on at the moment?
An interesting part of the cube phenomenon is that more and more competitions are organized around the world. There were nearly 500 competitions organized last year with over 50,000 contestants. This is an unbelievable trend. It means the cube has become a part of some people’s lives and has formed a small community where people with the same interest get to meet and discuss the game in a good atmosphere.
In the future, I would like to make competitions a bit more formal. It has somewhat become an extreme sport in which you need to use both your brain and hands. When you’re playing chess you’re fighting with other people, while in this one you’re fighting with your own capabilities and the clock.
What is the most enjoyable thing for you?
That I’m always moving forward. The cube has so many important elements that you would never feel that you’ve finished it. The maxim is 20 moves but nobody knows the ultimate solution. There are always potentials to do it better, faster and to find a lot more solutions.
Until Feb 26. Global Harbor Museum, 4/F, Global Harbor Mall, see event listing.
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