Critics once predicted that Erno Rubik’s multicolored cube, invented 50 years ago, would fade away in the 1980s. However, millennials and Generation Z are as captivated by Rubik’s Cube as their parents were. In a rare interview with AFP, the 79-year-old inventor reflected on the puzzle’s enduring appeal.
A hands-on digital detox
“In a digital world, we are slowly forgetting that we have hands,” Rubik remarked. He emphasized that playing with the cube reconnects us with the fundamental act of using our hands—”our first tools.” This tactile engagement is something deeply primal and essential to human development.
A viral sensation
The resurgence of “speed cubing” and Rubik’s Cube hacks on social media has brought the puzzle back into the spotlight. Youngsters often go viral solving the cube while dancing, rapping, or even playing the piano.
Rubik noted that the “connection between the mind and hands” fostered by the cube has been crucial for human progress. “It’s a piece of art you are emotionally involved with,” he added.
Originally an unassuming Hungarian architecture professor, Rubik never imagined his prototype would conquer the world and secure his legacy. Over 500 million copies of the cube have been sold, not including countless counterfeits. The puzzle remains one of the best-selling games globally, with more than 43 quintillion possible combinations.
Despite the omnipresence of screens, new generations have formed strong relationships with the cube. Speaking at Budapest’s Aquincum Institute of Technology, Rubik expressed amazement at the ongoing fascination. “Even after hundreds or thousands of years, you would still be finding ways to crack it,” he enthused.
From communist Hungary to global fame
Rubik created the first working prototype of his “Magic Cube” in 1974, and it went on sale internationally in 1980. He recalled his first trip from communist Hungary to the West as a fairytale-like experience. Though publicity-shy, Rubik has collected about 1,500 magazine covers featuring his cube, which has become a “symbol of complexity” used to illustrate everything from geopolitical issues to elections.
Rubik’s Cube has cemented its place in pop culture, appearing in numerous TV shows and Hollywood movies. It remains central to puzzle-solving competitions worldwide, with enthusiasts solving it blindfolded, while parachuting, or even doing headstands. The cube also holds a place in the permanent exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art and has inspired artists like French street artist Invader.
As an educational tool, the cube is used in everything from nursery schools to universities and even in retirement homes. It also aids people living with autism, including American speed-cubing star Max Park, who holds the world record at 3.13 seconds.
Rubik’s Cube: More than just a puzzle
For Rubik, the emotional rewards brought by the cube surpass the financial benefits. Reflecting on the past five decades, he likened his relationship with the cube to having a “wunderkind” in the family. “You need to take a step back because of your ‘child’ and its fame, which can be very tiring,” he admitted. Yet, the cube’s legacy endures, a testament to its creator’s ingenuity and the simple joy of solving a puzzle.
