Troy Emery

Troy Emery's Guardian Lion is a vibrant landmark in Melbourne, Australia, blending the mythic and the contemporary in a display of colour and form. Emery is known for his textile-based sculptures that explore the intersection of fine art, craft, and natural history. He has long been fascinated by how humans aestheticize and mythologize nature. His practice balances playfulness with ecological anxiety themes, creating familiar and otherworldly creatures. Emery brings this vision to an urban scale with Guardian Lion, crafting a guardian figure that watches over the city with a surreal, luminous presence.

Curated as part of Melbourne Square's public art vision, Together, in Nature, the artwork reflects the city's creative spirit and deep relationship with nature and mythology. Positioned on one of the most visible walls in the area, Guardian Lion is thought to be more than just an eye-catching installation—it is a symbol of protection and connection, drawing inspiration from traditional guardian-lion sculptures found in Chinese and Japanese architecture as well as European heraldic symbols. It also nods to the legend of the 'Grampians big cat,' an elusive feline rumoured to roam the Victorian wilderness. It gives the artwork a local folkloric connection that invites curiosity and wonder.

Bringing Guardian Lion to life required extensive planning, engineering, and fabrication expertise. At 15.4 meters high and 18.7 meters wide, the sculpture comprises laser-cut aluminium panels, carefully shaped and treated for durability. Its intense spectrum of colours was achieved through a combination of powder coating and wet-spray techniques, ensuring the hues remain vibrant under shifting light conditions. Over 130 meters of LED flex lighting were integrated into the structure, outlining its form with a dynamic glow that transforms the artwork from day to night.

The fabrication process was a meticulous collaboration between digital modelling, metalwork, and large-scale installation. The aluminium subframe was first anchored to the wall, providing structural integrity for the massive panels. Each segment was lifted and secured in place, followed by the intricate lighting installation and programming process. The final steps ensured every detail—colour, alignment, and illumination—matched Emery's original vision, resulting in a seamless translation from concept to reality.

More than just a striking visual landmark, Guardian Lion embodies the spirit of Melbourne—its diversity, creativity, and deep ties to cultural traditions. Its bold presence enlivens the surrounding architecture, offering passersby a sense of playfulness and guardianship. By reinterpreting a historical motif in a contemporary form, the artwork bridges past and present, encouraging reflection on how myth, nature, and urban life intersect. At night, its illuminated outline casts a soft glow, transforming it into a spectral presence that watches over the city, reinforcing the idea of a silent yet steadfast protector.