Young and upcoming artist Ved Gupta looks at life from the perspective of the dispossessed, projecting them as heroic, albeit tragic beings. The pledge of evenly shared prosperity, made at the birth of the modern period, still remains elusive as everyone hankers after a piece of the pie, and covets what others have as well. Pointing to the bitter reality, his creations revolve around the themes of corruption, gluttony and oppression.
He is not averse to raising his voice on behalf of the suppressed. His creations draw from his forceful perception of the prevailing injustices and inequalities of the rigid class structured society of present day India. Even as the country soaks in the success of economic liberalization and globalization, he underlines the abuse of the basic values on which the modern India was supposedly constructed.
Leaving his hometown, he traveled to New Delhi and then Pilani, Rajasthan where he spent time with a master sculptor. His fascinating journey, familiarizing him with various shades of human emotions like the feeling of loneliness and desperation attached with the phenomenon of migration reflects in the vibrant vocabulary of his paintings and sculptures.
His debut solo at New-Delhi based Gallery Threshold revolved around the theme of exploitation and mental turmoil. It looked into the seamier aspects of the 21st century’s socio-political relations. He has stated in an interview: “I have always aspired to make a political statement and give back to the society with whatever I did. The language of art provided me with a way of expressing that and connecting with the society.”
Analyzing his work, art critic Deeksha Nath has stated: “Ved Gupta’s sculptures and paintings mock existing social and economic hierarchies in India. Several decisive turns in his life have influenced his concepts and methodology, precisely articulated in this first solo exhibition.”
His ambition – to create a dialogue that begins with his work – is grand but the context is localized, grounded in his experiences and observations.
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