Flanked by Concrete

“You look mythological.. Tremendous art.”
~ John Devlin (Visual artist, University of Nova Scotia)

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“My dear friend Adamo, here’s my perspective: With the title "Flanked by Concrete," this image really takes on a deeper meaning for me. It feels like it’s about navigating the tough, sometimes isolating nature of city life. The concrete suggests being surrounded by urban structures—rigid, cold, and unyielding. To me, it represents the resilience and endurance needed to live in a place that can often feel impersonal.

Looking at you my friend in the photo, it’s like you’re guarding yourself against that environment. The sunglasses and beanie feel like a form of self-protection, almost like armour. It’s as if you’re both a part of the city and at the same time, trying to resist being completely absorbed by it. It makes me think about the struggle to maintain personal identity and space when everything around us is so overwhelming and structured.

The muted colours and dim lighting really add to that vibe, making it feel introspective, like there’s a silent rebellion against the concrete backdrop. With the title "Flanked by Concrete," it’s not just a portrait anymore—it’s a story about finding your place in a world that can feel both confining and inspiring. Love is pure imagery!”
~ Rosie S. (Administrative Management, Vanier College)
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“They say "Neo" was the one.. Not true.. tis you my friend! The "one" of fashion & art, great picture.”
~ Johnny Stirpe (YouTube, Harvard University)
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“Concrete suits you well!”
~ Gabriele Prill (Artist, Aachen Germany)
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"One of Macri’s portraits, among many to be sure, where viewer may well be tempted to offer their psychological study is Flanked by Concrete. I don’t necessarily exempt myself from this popular activity. There’s such a calm aura about the portrait Flanked by Concrete that it undercuts any notion of struggle, even if the figure appears to be emerging from the lifeless background and freeing himself from, well, being flanked. The military notion of being flanked by the enemy, however, doesn’t seem to apply here. Indeed, the very undifferentiated features and smoothness of the toque itself demonstrate a fitting ease and comfort. I have written about this work in a piece about Macri’s art called In My Dark Gallery, and won’t repeat myself here, except to say that the black toque (or is it deep brown?) in this portrait heightens the somewhat brutalist elements, connecting head with concrete. It suggests at the very least that the figure is not rejecting but merging into the ambience, not fighting to free or identify anything distinctive about himself, separate from his world, but calmly blending into its hard reality. Yes, the air of concrete confidence in this portrait is highlighted by the toque. He is flanked by concrete, but is also part of it."

“The head in Flanked by Concrete, however, is less clearly defined, especially the right side where the shoulder and wall are almost indistinguishable. The head, of course, is covered with a tuque whose shapes call to mind the Terracotta soldiers of China..”


Flanked by Concrete, 2024
Photography: Chromogenic C-print
58 x 66 cm