How do artists use concrete to explore identity in figurative works?

Artists have long turned to unconventional materials to express complex ideas, and concrete has emerged as a powerful medium for exploring identity in figurative works. Its rigid, industrial nature contrasts with the fluidity of human form, creating a striking dialogue between permanence and impermanence. Contemporary sculptors often use concrete's rough texture to symbolize the weight of societal expectations or the fractures in personal identity.

Some artists embed personal artifacts or layered pigments into the material, mirroring the way memories and experiences shape who we are. Others play with concrete's ability to both preserve and erode, reflecting identity's evolving nature. The material's gray monotone also becomes a canvas for exploring cultural or racial identity, with artists adding symbolic colors or patterns.

By transforming this cold, utilitarian substance into evocative human forms, creators challenge viewers to reconsider preconceptions about both the material and the concept of self. The resulting works often feel simultaneously fragile and enduring—much like identity itself in our rapidly changing world.