What is RubikCubism?

RubikCubism, also spelled as Rubikubism, is a specialised form of art that makes use of Rubik’s cubes as a medium. It is also known by other similar names such as Rubik’s Cube Art and Rubik’s Cubism. In recent years, this art form has received a lot of attention, and it should be noted that for Rubik’s Cube fans, it is a matter of authentic self-expression.

In this article, we take a close look at what RubikCubism is, and how you can begin to dabble with this art form yourself.

The History of RubikCubism 

The Pointillism painting technique was developed in 1866 inspired by the Impressionist movement. Pointellist art is characterized by small dots of color, often in primary colors that are applied in patterns to form an image. RubikCubism draws inspiration from this technique by making use of actual cubes to depict both real and surreal concepts and subjects.

One of the first documented RubikCubist art is an untitled 16.5×16.5 cm work, created by an individual whose pseudonym is Invader. While this is widely claimed as the first RubikCubist art, many believe that RubikCubism originated as early as during the first few years when the Rubik’s Cube became popular, during the early 1980s. As with many modern art forms, RubikCubism is represented both physically and digitally. 

Famous RubikCubist art for inspiration 

From Johnny Depp to Donald Trump, and Mona Lisa to the Grumpy Cat, there are a number of Rubik’s mosaics readily available online for inspiration. Here are a few famous Rubik’s Cube mosaics that have been discussed widely across the web. 

1. The Last Supper by Josh Chalom

The Last Supper by Josh Chalom depicts Jesus Christ and his apostles as imagined in the famous scene. Josh created this mosaic in 2009, and it was eventually purchased by a private collector in Florida for $50,000. The artist used 4,050 cubes, and it spans an area of 144.5 square feet. Later, Josh broke his own record by recreating Michelangelo’s Hand of God with 12,090 cubes.

2. Dream Big by Pete Fecteau

Pete Fecteau created a beautiful Martin Luther King Jr. mosaic made entirely from Rubik’s Cubes. The artist used a staggering 4,242 cubes to construct the mosaic, entitled Dream Big. It took Pete 40 hours to complete the artwork, which weighed an astounding half a ton.

3. Lil Nas X by Wendy Diaz

Musician Lil Nas X shared a beautiful mosaic of himself created by Survivor participant Wendy Diaz. The artwork required 441 cubes, and depicts the famous rapper in a sublime mood. Wendy also holds the Guinness World Record for solving the most number of Rubik’s Cubes while playing the hula hoop, according to Sameer Suri on Daily Mail. 

How to build Rubik’s Cube mosaics at home 

If you are considering creating Rubik’s Cube mosaic yourself, you will need to prepare in advance. It is easier to build digital mosaic art than looking for thousands of physical cubes.  However, even digital Rubik’s mosaics require a certain resolution in terms of pixels to render them as appealing art.

Here are the basic steps: 

1. Begin with imagining your artwork, and what its size is going to be
2. Choose an image editor that you are most comfortable with
3. Reduce the colour depth to use six colors
4. Make sure that you can digitally solve the visible cubes on the screen
5. A good online source to generate the pixels required for this particular art is BestSiteEver.ru. All you need to do is to visit the site, upload your preferred image, and the site will render the pixels.
6. Spend time creating your artwork, and impress your friends and family 

If you would like to build a physical mosaic, you will probably need to order cubes and break them down before venturing to create the artwork. An alternative is to purchase regular colored cubes, and create a piece of artwork that inspires you.

An excellent hobby for cubers 

RubikCubism does not have to be limited to trained artists and craftsmen. Anyone who has access to physical or digital cubes, and a wee bit of interest in art can begin creating RubikCubist art. It is an excellent way to express oneself, and expand one’s imagination and creative skills. Most importantly, it is an opportunity to discover one’s hidden potentials and create something that is enduring.