Discovery of Altruism is a miniscule bronze sculpture made by Ved Gupta that structure around the element of ambiguity present in political system of India, where though the question of one’s existence is dependent on the other, the real character and intent of each one is unknown. These sculptures are a ready comment on the farce played by our politician during the time of elections. These also highlight the sensibilities and anxieties of both who constitute the centre of ‘power’ as well as those who bestow power on them. The lean common man and the politician both are standing in opposition as in democracy, but at the same time are connected through the solid block manifested as institution of ‘Democracy’. A considerably aware citizen finds himself in a ‘flux’ when he votes, surrendering himself to the system as he goes headless, not in position to imply his mind. At this moment, the politician also temporarily succumbs to the authority of common man, only to regain his lost strength eventually.

The Renunciation-I also depicts clear act of surrender of a disempowered man to the powerful politician. The man again chooses to go headless by bandaging his face. Through this gesture, he is creating a periphery for himself, trying to run away from the system. Rather than creating a system, in India we are running with the system akin to ‘headless chickens’.   

The Renunciation II and The Renunciation III however testify the absence of the common man in the artist’s visual territory. The artist believes that the common man is a ubiquitous entity in his work and in these sculptures, the artist intends to rather posit his viewer as a common man and anticipate a reaction from him. The man here clad as a politician is apparently shying away from the people whose presence he does not want to acknowledge in his territory after assuming power. Isn’t it a commonplace attitude our politicians wear with such an ease!