During a conversation, Lidia shared an observation she had while walking across the John Frost Bridge in Arnhem. She noticed a cow lying down in the field, completely at rest. In contrast, she explained that in Mexico, cows are always alert to potential danger, which causes them to sleep standing up. This observation sparked a reflection on the contrast between environments, as cows in the Netherlands seemed to feel safe enough to lower their guard. Inspired by this, I set out to explore the notion of rest in public spaces, particularly within the context of my experience as a migrant in the Netherlands.

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In this performance, I asked passersby from Presiskhaff and Velp to take a photograph of me while I attempted to rest. As the camera was in their hands, I deliberately positioned my body at rest, yet remained aware of their presence. This act of performing rest, while still being alert, was a way to challenge the societal expectations of constant productivity, especially in public spaces where rest is not commonly allowed. The city, designed for productivity, rarely accommodates genuine rest. The tension between my need for rest and the environment’s demands was a focal point of this exploration.

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This exploration later expanded into a collective context, when I worked with artists Lily Higgins and Nera Jelaska in the workshop Against the Smooth City. We questioned the smoothness of the urban environment, especially in the context of Kruisplein in Rotterdam, where urban interventions such as micro-parklets were designed to promote leisure. Through our performance of sleeping in public space, we questioned how social norms around rest are shaped in a "smooth" city. Despite being designed for leisure, the space revealed how public spaces still uphold productivity norms, with our act of sleeping disrupting this script. This performance became an exploration of how small acts of resistance can challenge public expectations and empower autonomy.