Exsqueeze me! Pole dancer taking part in Royal Academy of Art nude exhibition says embarrassed visitors apologized as they pushed past naked performers

A pole dancer taking part in a controversial new art exhibition has told how embarrassed visitors apologized as they squeezed past the performers’ naked bodies.

Rowena Gander is among around 40 performers, made up of dancers, artists and actors, who will be taking off their clothes as part of Marina Abramovic’s exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts.

In one performance, a naked man and woman face each other, blocking the path of visitors who have to navigate past them.

Liverpool-based Rowena described her job as “an hour-long performance where we and a partner watch people walk through our naked bodies as if it were a gateway to art.”

She said: “I already have a lot of interesting observations about how audiences interact with the work.”

Rowena Gander (pictured) is among around 40 performers, made up of dancers, artists and actors, who will be taking off their clothes as part of Marina Abramovic’s exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts

During a performance, a naked man and woman face each other, blocking the path of visitors who have to move past them (pictured above: Rowena Gander, left, with performance partner Kieram Corrin Mitchell, right, as a visitor tries to to squeeze past them)

Liverpool-based Rowena, a passionate pole dancer (pictured above), described her job at the exhibition as “an hour-long performance where we, along with a partner, watch people walk through our naked bodies as if it were a gate to art.”

“The main problem last night at the launch was that people were apologizing.”

In response to her post on Instagram, one follower wrote: “So British…Haha.”

Rowena – who will perform alongside dancer Kieram Corrin Mitchell – describes herself as a performer, choreographer and educator who creates “experimental, thought-provoking work through contemporary pole dance fusion.”

She has previously performed at Secret Circus, Miss Pole Dance UK 2017, Las Vegas Pole Expo and Blackpool Pole Dance Championships.

Rowena takes part in the one-hour performance “Imponderabilia”, which is performed up to six times a day as part of the exhibition.

She said of the experience, “I learn so much about myself and the other person when I do this work.”

“After about 30 minutes, I feel like I can see her soul.”

She takes part in two further performances of the exhibition.

In one, a naked woman sits in a crucifix position on a bicycle saddle mounted on the wall; in the second, the artist lies naked under a skeleton for about two hours.

Rowena said she undertook “intense endurance and endurance training” to prepare for three months of “challenging and powerful” performances.

Another artist who strips down for the same three works is Agata Flaminika, who describes herself as “a multidisciplinary artist based in Cornwall”.

She said: “I already have a lot of interesting observations about audience interaction with the work.” The main problem at the launch last night was that people were apologizing.

Rowena (pictured pole dancing) describes herself as a performer, choreographer and instructor who creates “experimental, thought-provoking work through contemporary pole dance fusion.”

Rowena takes part in the hour-long performance entitled “Imponderabilia” (pictured above with two other performers while a woman tries to squeeze through), which is performed up to six times a day as part of the exhibition

Rowena said of the experience (pictured above with two different artists): “I learn so much about myself and the other person when I perform this work.” After about 30 minutes, I feel like I can see their soul.

Another performer who strips down for the same three works is Agata Flaminika (pictured above during an art performance), who describes herself as a “multidisciplinary artist based in Cornwall”.

She has previously posted photos on social media of herself covered in paint (pictured above) and performing nude outdoor performances

Visitors to the Royal Academy of Arts’ next exhibition, which opens this weekend and features a naked woman in a crucifix pose, will have to squeeze past a naked man and woman to enter (pictured above).

She has previously posted photos on social media of herself covered in paint and performing nude outdoor performances.

In one, she complained that images from a performance documenting the female body and nature had been removed after violating Instagram’s nudity guidelines.

She wrote: “It is truly sad and frustrating how social media censors women’s bodies, especially given the vulgar, over-sexualized portrayal in mainstream media.”

“There shouldn’t be any shame in looking at the naked body.”

She said she was “absolutely honored and excited” to appear in the exhibition, in which she will appear alongside Kam Wan – a US-based artist, model and actress.

The exhibition, which opens this weekend, is curated by controversial artist Marina Abramović (pictured), who previously invited visitors to slit their throats for another art exhibition