Artist: Giovanni Contardi Title: IS > IF Year: 2026 Medium: Rubik’s Cube mosaic (wall sculpture) Materials: 49 original Rubik’s Cubes, MDF panel, archival industrial adhesive Dimensions: 40 × 40 × 9.5 cm Edition: Unique work This unique wall-mounted work, composed entirely of original Rubik’s Cubes, is structured around the relationship between what is and what could be, articulated through the expression “IS > IF”. “IS” appears as a fixed and stable condition, while “IF” introduces a conditional state, open to variation and projection. Within the otherwise rigid modular system, a single cube can be physically rotated. This minimal intervention allows the viewer to alter part of the composition, embodying the act of hypothetical thinking. While the overall structure remains unchanged, the conditional element can be continuously reconfigured, producing subtle shifts in the reading of the work. A consistent internal pattern runs across the entire surface, organised through a repeated directional sequence, suggesting a continuous flow that extends beyond the visible form. The work reflects on the difference between observing what is and actively constructing alternative possibilities through mental projection. This intervention, though minimal, introduces a shift that extends beyond the conditional element, suggesting how even a small variation can affect the structure of the whole, rather than remaining confined to the realm of possibility. Giovanni Contardi is an Italian artist internationally recognised for his mosaics created entirely from original Rubik’s Cubes. His work transforms one of the most iconic objects of the 20th century into a contemporary artistic medium defined by a distinctive, recognisable visual language. His relationship with the Rubik’s Cube began in 2009 through competitive speedcubing, where he developed a high level of technical mastery. In 2013, he began translating this expertise into Rubik’s Cube mosaics, and by 2018 this exploration had evolved into a full-time artistic practice, gaining international attention across the fields of contemporary art, design, and pop culture. Selected Installations and Recognition: His installations are permanently exhibited at the Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel (Disneyland Paris) and at the Rossini National Museum in Italy. His contribution to the development of “Rubik Cubism” has been recognised internationally, including a mention by Ernő Rubik, inventor of the Rubik’s Cube, in his autobiographical book Cubed: The Puzzle of Us All (2020). Selected works, installations, and process documentation are shared on Instagram under the name JVENB.