April Phillips - Body Place

April Phillips is a Wiradjuri-Scottish woman of the Galari peoples, based on the Yuin Nation. April is aligned with representations of Indigenous futurism and intergenerational healing to celebrate the potential of computer art for a new world.

In real time, the companion sky spirit took the audience for a celestial virtual walk on Country – from the depths of subterranean soils, to a ground-level play space, ascending to meet the clouds.

“Body Place is positioned in the transformative powers of Country, driven by the audience’s movement.” April Phillips

Leveraging boundary-pushing technologies, Body Place combined real-time person tracking and motion capture. This allowed audiences to roam an expansive illuminated 14 metre screen, in Utp’s purpose-built space.

“The work is many things – a cinematic story, an immersive 2-channel projection, and a gamified journey.” April Phillips

“Body Place uses the potential of technology to continue the millenia-long practice of First Nations storytelling” Hannah Donnelly and Jessica Olivieri, Utp Co-Artistic Directors

Creative Team

April Phillips collaborated with digital artists Jordan East, Pat Younis and Alvin Zhong to bring her vision to life. With sound design by Mark Leahy, sound and motion elements contributed by by Yuin musician and traditional dancer, Warren Foster Jnr. aka Prodikal-1. Work developed in conversation with Wiradjuri, Yuin and Dharug knowledge holders. Exhibition and installation design by Youssofzay + Hart.

Read the Curatorial Essay re/building worlds beyond form by Co-Artistic Director Hannah Donnelly here.

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EXHIBITION DETAILS

Dates: 2-30 March 2024

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10am-4pm

Location: RS1, 5 Olympic Parade, Bankstown NSW 2200

Subsequent Touring:

kajoo yannaga (come on let's walk together), Now or Never (Naarm)

Dates: Thursday 22 August - Sat 31 August

Location: ACMI - Swinburne Studio, Fed Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne 3000

Photos by Jacquie Manning

OPENING EVENT

It is our great pleasure to invite you to Body Place. Experience the immersive installation for the first time, followed by a thought-provoking panel, Sub worlds: First Nations world building panel discussion.

Date: Saturday 2 March

Time: 2-5pm

Location: Utp, 5 Olympic Parade, Bankstown NSW 2200

PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Friday 1 March, 5-10pm — Preview and panel talk at Design Alive

Saturday 2 March, 2-5pm — Official opening event and Sub worlds: First Nations world building panel discussion

Saturday 9 March, 10-11am — Artist Walkthrough

Saturday 16 March, 2-4pm — Curators' Reflections

Saturday 23 March, 4:30-11:30pm — Crip Rave Theory x Body Place dance party

Body Place is a part of Utp’s 2024 provocation First and Last that affirms our strong commitment to First Nations Peoples having the first and last word, now and into the future.

PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body’s VACS funding. With support from Create NSW, Creative Partnerships Australia, Nielsen Foundation, The Doc Ross Foundation, Bankstown Arts Centre and Tactical Lab UNSW.

Image credit: Body Place (still from creative development) April Phillips, Jordan East and Pat Younis