The wildLIFE Project
Homage to a King is a shrine dedicated to Cecil, a 13-year-old lion who lived in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. In 2015, he was lured beyond the park’s protected boundaries and killed by an American trophy hunter, an act that drew widespread international attention and outrage.
Known for his distinctive dark mane and familiarity with visitors to the park, Cecil had become a recognizable presence within the landscape. His death, marked by calculated strategy and the removal of his body for display, underscored the ongoing tensions between conservation, tourism, and trophy hunting.
In this work, Maruyama transforms that event into a space of remembrance. The shrine does not recreate the violence, but holds its absence—honoring the life of the animal while calling attention to the conditions that led to its loss.