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Rowena | Performance Artist

@rowenagander

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Dr Performer | Choreographer | Lecturer. @abramovicinstitute @edgehilluniversity @polepurpose

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I am honoured to be performing in the world premiere of Marina Abramović's Balkan Erotic Epic tomorrow evening at @factory_international with a huge company of brilliant performers. The work is an amazing feast of ritual, eroticism, love, loss, hope and, for the people who know who have already seen it in dress and previews, it has been described as a mind blowing experience!!

Come celebrate the genius work of @abramovicinstitute @bllyzh @blenardazizaj and other brilliant creatives.

Closes 19th October!!

Photography @marco_anelli_studio

#marinaabramović #balkaneroticepic #performanceart #manchester #art #artist #reddress #milkritual by @rowenagander

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a year ago

"I will be having milk poured on my body for four hours continuously."

We caught up with performance artist Rowena Gander (@rowenagander) who will be performing in two scenes in Balkan Erotic Epic.

Balkan Erotic Epic explores the eroticism, spirituality and traditions of Marina Abramović’s (@abramovicinstitute) homeland through 13 visceral scenes.

In the Wedding Rituals scene, Rowena will have milked poured on her for four hours - re-enacting a Balkan bride being prepared for her wedding day and symbolising purification and fertility.

Rowena mentions that, even after her four hour rehearsal, she could still feel milk being poured on to her body!

She also appears in the Massaging the Breast scene, which features women of all ages mourning their husbands.

You can read more about each scene in our official programme - available to purchase in our shop or pre-order with your ticket 📖

Balkan Erotic Epics begins at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, next week (Thursday 9 October).

🎟️ Don't miss out - it's your last chance to book tickets!

🔗 Book now by clicking the link in Factory International's bio. taken in Aviva Studios, home of Factory International by @rowenagander

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a year ago

Freeing the Body with the Pole, a 4 hour improvised performance with the Pole, was a profound experience that felt more like 40 minutes. I lost concept of time and was completely present. I am still processing my choices, the energy of the people who shared the space with me, and how we arrived at the ending we did.

Thank you @wing_it_impro for providing a platform for me to premier this new show. Tech and staff and @unity_theatre were welcoming and accommodating, as always, especially Xenia who improvised lights for 4 hours with me.

Also very grateful to @cathybutterworth1 who has mentored and encouraged me to see beyond my limits. And @dr.c.13 who facilitated, held space and provided care before and after performance.

Love the documentation by the one and only @clarebonthrone

#pole #performance #sunday #improvisation #movement #art #artist #performance #pdsunday #trick #play #art #experimentalpole #endure #challenge #bepresent #performanceart #artistsoninstagram #marina #freeingthememory #abramovic #strongwomen by @rowenagander

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2 years ago

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8 days ago

Diluting Lesbian did not dilute the lesbian today. 4 hours is too little for that... @contactmcr @warnmcr

Such a fantastic audience who have given me so much to think about. A lot of humour and intensity was shared. Thank you.

#duration #manchester #lgbt+ #artist #performanceart taken in Contact by @rowenagander

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11 days ago

KAMP Artist residency 2026 with @creativebodyinstitute

Exploring and developing As Long As I Want (2026), Pillow Talk (2026) for @lesbianperformance , and featuring in @raegan.truax ongoing work Duet (2010).

Meeting wonderful artists from around the world, whom I will forever treasure in my heart ❤️ 🌍 . @offbyamark @alexxzorila @karmafly Corina

#artist #residency #greece #wlw #lesvos by @rowenagander

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2 months ago

I would class this as stopping 🛑 (and holding onto my flip flops for dear life by flexing my feet and still dropping one).

#pause #handstand #pole #mytiline #lesvos taken in Mitylene, Lesvos, Greece by @rowenagander

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2 months ago

Bed Death (2024) explores the ‘death’ of an intimate relationship. Throughout the 4-hour durational work, the lesbian performance artist, Rowena Gander, aggressively destroys a bed to signify the emotions one might experience when two people in a relationship are no longer compatible. The audience are invited to share reflections on their own relationships in written form.

#wlw #performanceart #lgbt+ #lesbian #artist taken in Contact by @rowenagander

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2 months ago

As Long as I Want… so many delicious moments.

🏠 @creativebodyinstitute KAMP.
🎥 @offbyamark

#desire #lesvos #wlw #durationalperformance improvisation taken in Lesvos, Greece by @rowenagander

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2 months ago

Happy Pride Weekend - here is my palimpsestic reflection on my own activism through my work #pride #lesvos #reflection #artist #lgbt taken in Skála Sikaminéas, Lesvos, Greece by @rowenagander

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2 months ago

Wait for it... R&D (playtime)👩‍🎨 with lauren.jane.artist and @g6filmstudios @immersivearts_uk so many possibilities #robocoaster #performanceart #play #r&d taken in G6 Film Studios by @rowenagander

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3 months ago

Frankenstein, South Korea 🇰🇷 🧌❤️ ✅

What an adventurous and special experience!

Huge congratulations to the creative team, cast and crew 👏, such a wonderful amalgamation of mediums and talent.

@brandonsungjoon
@quirk.cat
@vivalidi_vocal
@xhd_e
@luvtgcef
@_parrrrk0
@ojoj_h
@comwhaxmay_
@grasster1x
@ehit314
@enihjune
@jjunu_03
shortstackashe
@z1na.o
@hwahalmin._
@skm_25
@josh_armstrong777
@alice_katleen
@The_real_pibbles
@dankookuniversity @edeghilluniversity @ayangartscentre

#frankenstein #choreographer #artist #dancing #musical by @rowenagander

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3 months ago