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This Mona Lisa Made out of Rubik's Cubes Has Sold for More than Half a Million Dollars

Photo credit: FRANCOIS GUILLOT - Getty Images
Photo credit: FRANCOIS GUILLOT - Getty Images

From House Beautiful

Every day, thousands of people swarm around the “Mona Lisa” to see the enigmatic smile on the famous da Vinci painting IRL at the Louvre. Considered one of the most famous paintings in the world, it’s no surprise that it’s a source of inspiration for artists—some more unconventional that others. At an exhibition in Paris, an interpretation of the “Mona Lisa” made entirely of Rubik's Cubes recently sold for more than half a million dollars.

Photo credit: Chesnot - Getty Images
Photo credit: Chesnot - Getty Images

According to Reuters, anonymous French street artist Invader created “Rubik Mona Lisa” in 2005 using 330 Rubik’s Cubes. From a distance the mosaic’s garish colors clearly resemble the “Mona Lisa.” On Sunday it sold for €480,000 (about $520,680), which shattered the presale estimate of €150,000. The sale coincided with the end of a Leonardo da Vinci exhibition at the Louvre commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Renaissance artist’s death.

Describing himself as an “Unidentified Free Artist,” Invader always appears in masks. He’s known for his tile mosaics of pixelated Space Invaders video game characters that he began creating in 1998. On his website, he says the motivation for the project was about liberating art from museums institutions, which can be aleienting. He added that it was also about liberating the characters from video games and TV screens, bringing them into the physical world.

He created the “Rubik Mona Lisa” as part of his “Rubikcubism” series. With Ruik’s Cubes, which only have six colors, Invader has created portraits of the Iron Maiden, Charles Manson, and ACDC.

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