Imagine a competition where the only rule is to do absolutely nothing! No talking, no phones and doomscrolling, no sleeping, just…staring into space for 90 minutes. Well, that’s exactly what the Space Out Competition is all about. Originating in South Korea, this quirky and calming contest requires the participants to sit still and zone out, and it’s harder than you think!
Embracing The Art Of Intentional Idleness
In a world where productivity and hustle are celebrated, the Space Out Competition flips the script by. The competition came to life in 2014 in South Korea and celebrates stillness. According to a Guardian report, the competition was started by Korean artist Woopsyang.
In 2014, the artists held an art event, and it saw people spacing out for nearly 90 minutes. The art experiment gained global attention and has evolved into an international competition, held in cities around the world. Space Out Competition embraces the art of intentional idleness. It also aims to make people realise the importance of downtime–away from work, social media, and the things that occupy our minds every day.
All You Need To Know About Space Out Competition
So, how exactly does the Space Out Competition work? The participants sit idly for 90 minutes at the venue–no moving around, sleeping, checking phones, talking, or making any sort of noises. Many previous participants suggest stretching out a little before sitting for the competition.
Every 15 minutes, a judge comes to measure their heart rate, and it can make you nervous. You need to be extremely relaxed for this. Once the time ends, the spectators at the venue vote for ten participants. Based on the heart rates of the finalists, the judges then choose the winner.
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If you thought sitting idle was easy, then this competition will definitely give you something to think about!
Cover Image Courtesy: website/spaceoutcompetition