How do artists use concrete to critique consumerism in figurative works?

Artists often employ concrete as a medium to critique consumerism in figurative works, leveraging its raw, industrial qualities to symbolize the rigidity and decay of modern capitalist societies. By incorporating concrete into sculptures or mixed-media pieces, they highlight themes of alienation, mass production, and environmental degradation. For instance, some artists create fragmented human figures from concrete, representing the dehumanizing effects of consumer culture. Others juxtapose glossy consumer goods with rough concrete surfaces, exposing the fragility of materialism. This material choice not only challenges traditional aesthetics but also invites viewers to reflect on the unsustainable nature of consumerist lifestyles. Through such works, concrete becomes a metaphor for both the permanence and impermanence of societal constructs.