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Participants’ heart rates are monitored by medical professionals every 15 minutes to determine their technical score, with additional points awarded for creativity and presentation—their artistic score.
The Space Out competition’s winner and finalists. Source: SBS News / Madeleine Wedesweiler
There is a somewhat serious element along with the novelty. South Korean artist Woopsyang first ran the competition in Seoul in 2014 to make a statement about hustle culture and burnout.
Amelia, one of the competitors, sat in a pool of water for the duration of the event, assisted by two helpers using kettles to warm the water and combat the chilly conditions brought on by the polar air in southeastern Australia.
The victor of the competition, Amelia, took on the role of a flowing fountain as she remained submerged in water for over 90 minutes on a brisk Melbourne day. Source: SBS News / Madeleine Wedesweiler
But the event’s presenters speculated the water lowered her heart rate — cold water is known to slow the body’s blood pressure and heart rate and can eventually lead to hypothermia and possibly death from prolonged exposure.
“It’s where she likes to sit and experience serenity. [I dedicate this] to everyone here as well, we are all fountains from when we wake up and take a shower until, well, when we next take a shower.”
Tiggolo the retired seeing-eye dog placed third. Source: SBS News / Madeleine Wedesweiler
Runner-up was Anthony, a man who initially claimed to be an engineer and was dressed as one, but then said he lied and he’s unemployed.
Another puppet costume, with a giant paper mache head that took two months to make, was awarded the “special prize”.
This was the Space Out competition’s Australian debut. Source: SBS News / Madeleine Wedesweiler
Participants were required to write a statement about why they were competing and audience members could place a vote on their answers in the form of red stickers.
“ADHD sisters about to enter their mind palace,” said another.
Each competitor had to share a statement about why they were competing. Source: SBS News / Madeleine Wedesweiler
“90 minutes of quiet dress ups and keeping kids entertained,” said a clever parent.
“Sometimes doing nothing can be the most powerful and valuable act,” the first scroll reads.
South Koran artist Woopsyang created the Space Out competition as a statement about burnout. Source: SBS News / Pranjali Seghal
After she revealed all the scrolls and called sequined performer Gabi Barton onstage to lead some stretching, the still-silent Woopsyang rang a tiny bell into a microphone to commence the competition.
Tackling burnout culture
Po from the Teletubbies participated, as did Dipsy. The pair didn’t know each other. Source: SBS News / Pranjali Seghal
“Normally Asians think that Western people are very chilled and relaxed, have their nice lifestyle, but then when I came to Melbourne a few days ago and saw people coming and going and rushing, I figured out even in Melbourne, life is so busy and everyone is very overwhelmed,” she told SBS News through an interpreter.
The WHO says it typically presents as exhaustion, negative feelings towards one’s job, and reduced professional productivity.
Many different professions were represented in the competition. Source: SBS News / Madeleine Wedesweiler
Woopsyang wanted the event to represent all different ages and professions, as though she was creating a miniature city where everyone was spacing out together.
“I was interrogating myself: ‘Why do I feel so much anxiety? Why can’t I stop, why can’t I pause?’
Many participants remarked they felt very zen afterwards. Source: SBS News / Madeleine Wedesweiler
“But then I thought everyone who surrounded me was still busy and doing other stuff and so I thought what if we all need to stop and then we can all take a break and recover,” she said.
