What cultural critiques emerge from using marble in abstract works about luxury and excess?

The use of marble in abstract art to explore themes of luxury and excess often serves as a sharp cultural critique. Historically, marble has symbolized wealth, permanence, and power, making it a potent medium for artists questioning modern materialism. Abstract works subvert its traditional associations, exposing the emptiness behind opulence. By fragmenting or distorting marble, artists highlight the fragility of status and the absurdity of excess. These pieces challenge viewers to reconsider societal values, blending beauty with irony to provoke reflection on consumption and inequality. The tension between marble's grandeur and abstraction's ambiguity creates a powerful dialogue about cultural contradictions.