ART ON THE MOVE is excited to share that Wiradjuri-Scottish artist April Phillips has been announced as the first recipient of the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art’s boorda yeyi Immersive Arts Commission.

Her new work, Under Waters, will combine projection, sound, and immersive technology to create a poetic, multi-sensory journey through deep time — from the ocean floor to the stars above.

Under Waters will be developed by Phillips in collaboration with artists Pat Younis and Jordan East, and will also include a group of young First Nations artists from the regions as part of the creative team.

Following its premiere at PICA in 2026, Under Waters will tour with ART ON THE MOVE, bringing this extraordinary project to communities across regional and remote WA.

This tour forms part of a multi-year partnership between PICA and ART ON THE MOVE, through which PICA will commission and premiere three new immersive works, with ART ON THE MOVE supporting their regional tours. Each tour will be accompanied by tailored learning resources to enhance accessibility and foster deeper engagement with local audiences, artists, and schools.

Under Waters is currently in development, and we’d love to hear from regional galleries and venues interested in hosting this immersive experience. To start the conversation, get in touch with our team at admin@artonthemove.art

Image credits: 1. April Phillips, 2025. Photo: Elise Idiens. Courtesy of Mane and Tales | 2. April Phillips, ‘kajoo yannaga’, 2024, Australian Centre for the Moving Image with Now or Never and Melbourne International Film Festival. Photo: Nick Robertson. Courtesy of the artist | 3-4. April Phillips, Body Place, 2024, Bankstown Arts Centre with Urban Theatre Projects. Photo: Jacqui Manning. Courtesy of the artist | 4-5. Pat Younis and Jordan East (Friends with Computers), 2025. Photos: Gary Trinh