Difficult territory is a cornerstone of the visual arts - so artist Mikala Dwyer knew it would be confronting last night when she invited Balletlab dancers to empty their bowels as part of a performance at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.

The two-hour act saw the six dancers, masked but naked beneath sheer garments, move around a room in the gallery before sitting on transparent stools and performing - only if they were moved to do so - what is usually one of our most private and rarely discussed daily acts.

A performer enthroned during the dance sequence of Goldene Bend'er and hopefully participating in what artist Mikala Dwyer says is our most democratic act.

Dwyer said the one-off performance was not designed as a mere shock tactic. Rather, she hoped ACCA visitors would think and talk about something we have been socialised to consider dirty and shameful, and have historically hidden from view, even though it is perfectly natural. In turn, they might transform other institutionalised ideas about the world.

The Balletlab performance is a small part of a much bigger Dwyer exhibition of sculpture and painting called Goldene Bend'er. A video of a private version of the performance, in which Dwyer participated, is also on view.