queuedlab

Canal Puzzle

Puzzle

Canal is a puzzle utilizing negative space. You have to make a blue path by placing white pieces in the frame. Designed by me (Han Dongkyu).

  • Design: Han Dongkyu (2021)
  • Production: Rex Rossano Perez (2024)
  • Goal: Place the four pieces to create a 1-square-wide blue path connecting the two dots. (All visible blue squares must be necessary to create the path; no extra blue squares allowed.)

Canal was an attempt to create a packing puzzle with an unconventional goal. It looks like a typical packing puzzle, but the goal lies in the negative space. You have to create a 1-square-wide blue path connecting the two dots, by placing the white pieces.

Back in 2022, I uploaded this design on my Facebook wall, with a remark “I don’t know if the solution is unique.” Thankfully, some FB friends enjoyed it and one of them was Symen Hovinga. He also sent me a Python code which confirms the solution is indeed unique. I wish I could’ve given him credit when this puzzle got produced, but sadly he passed away in 2023. I’ve always admired his unusual packing puzzle designs, and I hope he rests in peace.

Fast forward to 2024, Rex Rossano Perez asked me if I want to produce my puzzles. He has already produced my friend Albert Joe’s designs, so I didn’t hesitate to take the deal. I was glad that Canal could finally reach people around the world.

I also asked him to buy other puzzles he produced. I was eyeing on Copy Device puzzle by Hiroshi Yamamoto especially, because it was one of the inspiration for the Canal puzzle. Both puzzles share the goal of creating a shape using negative space, and I was amazed that such a challenging puzzle could be made with so few and simple pieces.

Rex kindly suggested me to choose the color combination I wanted, so I chose the same color combination as Canal. This copy of “Copy Device” became a one-of-a-kind puzzle in the world!

I also bought Bottleneck by Goh Pit Khiam and Rex gave me Pack-Man by Chris Enright as a gift. Both puzzles were quite tricky and fun to solve.

Finally, there’s an unnamed puzzle in the photo. It’s also my design I haven’t released to the public yet. It looks like a packing puzzle, but there’s a twist. If you’re curious, stay tuned!