A performance with a naked man at an art museum in Sao Paulo has sparked controversy after a child was allowed to touch the man's body while he lay exposed.

In a video circulating on social networks, a four year old girl is seen crawling on the floor around a man who is lying naked on his back in front an audience.

She touches the man's hand, legs and feet while accompanied by her mother who looks on and encourages her participation.

A video of artist Wagner Schwartz performing at an art museum in Sao Paulo has sparked controversy

In a video circulating on social networks, a four year old girl is seen crawling on the floor around him as lays naked on his back in front an audience

Organisers at the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) have strongly denied that the presentation had any erotic content and stressed the event was handled sensitively in a closed environment.

However, the display has outraged right wing politicians and far right groups who have called on judges to prosecute the author of the work, artist Wagner Schwartz.

The groups describe the performance as a crime which 'incites paedophilia', 'eroticism and 'pornography'. They add that the show was 'disgusting' and unacceptable' and put the 'child at risk'.

The presentation, which happened on Tuesday marked the opening of the 35th Panorama of Brazilian Art at MAM.

She touches the man's hand, legs and feet while accompanied by her mother who looks on and encourages her participation

The display has outraged right wing politicians and far right groups who have called on judges to prosecute Schwartz

Schwartz said his work, called 'La Bete', was inspired by Brazilian artist Lydia Clark

Schwartz, who has been performing his pose for over a year in various artistic venues across Brazil explained his work, called 'La Bete', was inspired by Brazilian artist Lydia Clark who in the 1960s produced a series of mechanical sculptures named 'Bicho' or 'Animal'.

The geometrically shaped sculptures with hinges allowed the audience to play with the construction changing the shape of what is apparently an animal into a different design by moving the pieces.

Schwartz, who has been an artist for over 20 years explained he performs as a replica of one of Clark's sculptures.

He said: 'As I stand or lie naked and vulnerable I allow my audience to interact with my body by inviting them to pull, reshape and manipulate it into many different poses and to construct images using my body'.

Schwartz, who has been an artist for over 20 years explained he performs as a replica of one of Clark's sculptures

He said: 'As I stand or lie naked and vulnerable I allow my audience to interact with my body by inviting them to pull, reshape and manipulate it into many different poses and to construct images using my body'

A spokesperson for MAM refuted the allegations that the exhibition was 'lewd', 'erotic' and inappropriate for a child

A spokesperson for MAM refuted the allegations that the exhibition was 'lewd', 'erotic' and inappropriate for a child.

They said: 'The performance was in a closed session for guests. The little girl was with her mother who is also an artist.

'Her daughter asked to enter the show after being given an explanation as to what it contained.

'The child wanted to participate and under her mother's guidance and supervision she is seen on all fours going around the artist's naked body without showing any embarrassment or aversion.

'This work was authorised by the museum and is not about eroticism and does not include any erotic content.

'It is an interpretative reading of the work of Brazilian artist Lydia Clark and we are satisfied with the way this performance was handled.'