Pause & Reflect in Our "Fantastical World"
At International Towers this festive season, Sydney-based cultural programming platform and creative studio Arts-Matter has unveiled a captivating installation that brings together the imaginative forces of artist Troy Emery and floral designer Ben Avery of The Colourblind Florist. Represented by Michael Reid Gallery, Emery has created a collection of mythical, vividly textured creatures that blur the boundaries between fantasy and the natural world. These fantastical forms are nestled within an immersive environment designed by Avery, whose lush, unconventional approach to colour and composition transforms the space into a dreamlike landscape. Together, their collaboration incites joy and wonder—encouraging visitors to embrace whimsy and reconnect with the magic of nature during the festive season.
Troy Emery’s sculptural practice centres on textile-based figurative forms that explore humanity’s complex relationship with the natural world. Through his use of mass-produced craft materials, vibrant hues, and soft textures, Emery contrasts the traditions of hard sculpture to evoke both delight and unease. His creatures are at once decorative and symbolic—manifestations of personal and collective anxiety about ecological fragility and our estrangement from the environment. Within this installation, these creatures become ambassadors of imagination and introspection, set against Avery’s richly sensory landscape. Together, their work invites audiences to pause, play, and reflect on the delicate balance between beauty, artifice, and the natural world that sustains us.
Troy Emery
Troy Emery is interested in the boundaries between fine art, museums, natural history, craft, and the domestic space, seeing his works as blurring the thresholds between these domains. Emery has exhibited widely across Australia and internationally since completing his Master of Fine Arts at the University of Sydney in 2009. His work is represented in numerous public and private collections, including the National Gallery of Victoria, Artbank, City of Townsville, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, Deakin University Art Museum, Deloitte Australia, Macquarie University Art Gallery, and Maitland Regional Art Gallery.
Benjamin Avery
Benjamin Avery, known as The Colourblind Florist, is a Sydney-based botanical artist whose distinctive approach to floristry blends fine art, design, and nature. Drawing on his background in painting and his unique colour perception, Avery creates sculptural arrangements that emphasise texture, form, and spatial composition. His imaginative work has led to collaborations with leading brands and institutions, including Gucci, Tiffany & Co., Helen Kaminski, Dinosaur Designs, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA), as well as large-scale commissions for events such as the David Jones Spring Flower Show. Through these projects, Avery continues to redefine contemporary floristry, transforming it into an expressive and architectural art form.
We invite you to explore our “Fantastical World” exhibition and immerse yourself in its creativity and wonder. We kindly request that you do not touch the artworks. The installations are on display in the lobbies of Tower Two, Tower Three and International House until the end of January 2026.