An educational psychologist from Hong Kong has been crowned the winner of the Space-Out competition, a contest that requires participants to sit still for 90 minutes without sleeping, making noise, or checking their phones. The event, held last October in a busy Hong Kong shopping mall, attracted about 100 participants.
The competition was founded in 2014 by Korean artist Woopsyang as a performance-art piece designed to challenge societal pressures to be constantly productive. Since then, similar events have been held worldwide several times a year.
During the 90-minute period, judges monitored participants’ heart rates every 15 minutes. The winner explained that she practised mindfulness to steady her heartbeat, focusing on her breath and the sensations of the breeze. Despite the nervousness caused by heart-rate checks, she viewed them as an opportunity to accept tension without forcing relaxation.
After the time elapsed, spectators voted among the final 10 participants based on their expressions and reasons for joining. The winner’s heart rate was the steadiest, earning her the trophy inspired by Rodin’s The Thinker.
She described the experience as a luxury in a fast-paced world, noting that taking time to ‘do nothing’ is vital for mental health. The trophy now sits in her living room as a reminder to prioritise moments of calm and self-nourishment.
