Special Rubik’s Cube exhibition opened in Japan
The Rubik’s Cube, also known as the Hungarian Magic Cube, broke into the Japanese market 40 years ago. On this occasion, the Hungarian Embassy in Tokyo called on the Japanese art world to create works inspired by the Rubik’s Cube. The project started in September and the “cube exhibition” was opened to the media this week.
Since its introduction, the 3D puzzle game has affected almost every area of life, including design, math, brain research etc. The special project was launched by the Hungarian Embassy in Tokyo in September, during which the artists, the works made for the anniversary of the Rubik’s Cube and the creative process were presented in short videos. The show opened on the 40th anniversary of the Magic Cube’s debut in Japan.
The unique feature of these works is that they were all inspired by the most famous Hungarian invention in the world, the Rubik’s Cube.
On 24th November, the works of art created by Japanese artists at the initiative of the Hungarian Embassy in Tokyo were presented to the Japanese press and the general public. At the solemn opening, Her Majesty Princess Takamado paid tribute as a guest of honour.
One of the most creative ideas was born by Kuma Kengo, the designer of the Tokyo Olympic Stadium and other famous Japanese buildings, who created a rotatable and movable Rubik’s cube-shaped furniture.
However, other creative ideas also impressed the audience, such as:
- Chef Koyama Susumu’s white chocolate cube creation process.
- Nakashima Jo, who has millions of views on his video channel and created a special magnetic origami Rubik’s cube.
- The eleventh-generation, renowned potter, Ohi Toshio, who has a tradition of 350 years, reproduced the colours of the cube to create fired pottery.
- A contemporary Japanese dancer who performed a dance inspired by the Rubik’s Cube.
- Kayama Hiroyasu, the owner of one of the best bars in Asia, Ben Fiddich in Tokyo, made a Unicum-based cocktail.
A documentary will be made about the artists’ creative process and creations which will soon be uploaded to the embassy’s online platforms.
According to Ambassador, Norbert Palanovics, the Hungarian Magic Cube is “experiencing its third heyday in Japan. The first was in the 1980s, when the Rubik’s Cube was introduced, and the second was in the early 2000s, when brain gymnastics games became popular. And the third is now, this year. This is not only due to the 40th anniversary, but also to the fact that many have rediscovered the cube for themselves during the restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Japanese distributor, two and a half times as many Rubik’s Cubes were sold in Japan in the first half of this year as last year.”
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He also added that “the peculiarity of the Rubik’s Cube is that almost every Japanese person knows what it is. So far, very few knew that the cube and its inventor were Hungarian. One of our most important missions during the current project and exhibition is to make as many people as possible aware that this creative invention and its creator is Hungarian. We want the Japanese people to be able to connect the message and symbolism of the Rubik’s Cube, especially creativity, science-based playful learning and innovation, even better with Hungary.”
As the Hungarian news portal Index reports, the special objects can be seen from Wednesday, 25th November to February 2021 at the Hungarian Cultural Institute, which opened last year in the heart of Tokyo. After the exhibition, the works of art will be put up for auction, and the proceeds will be used for charity.
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Source: index.hu