Tayeba Begum Lipi (b. 1969, Bangladesh) is a visual artist who completed her M.F.A. from the University of Dhaka. Through a creative range of media, she explores from a radical feminist perspective, issues of marginality and representation of the female body, addressing societal contradictions, often questioning the sexual stereotypes that dominate women’s lives around the world. Lipi recreates everyday objects, such as bathtubs, baby perambulators, picture frames, and handbags, appearing as if they are encased in their own suit of metallic armour. Closer inspection reveals that their polished surfaces are comprised of gleaming stainless steel razor blades, carefully welded into these rigid yet fragile structures. Through a creative range of media explores, she explores feminist issues of marginality, structural bias and representation of the female body, to address societal contradictions. Her work reflects her visceral memory of purchasing and cleansing sparkling new razor blades and pins, as the crucial, often only, tools available to the midwives assisting with the arrival of each new addition to the family. She is the co-founder and Trustee of Britto Arts Trust, Bangladesh’s first artist-run alternative arts platform dedicated to organizing exhibitions, encouraging intercultural dialogue and providing residencies for local artists.
Tayeba’s artworks can be found in the collections of Solomon R. Guggenheim, NYC; Kunsthaus Zurich, Neue Gallery Kassel, Renne Collection, Vancouver; Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) NYC; Taiwan National Museum of Fine Arts; Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, Massachusetts; Devi Art Foundation, India; Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation, Sydney; Bengal Foundation, Bangladesh; Samdani Art Foundation; JSW Foundation, India; Floodlight Foundation, India; AAN Collection, Hong Kong; LO-FTF Council Denmark; The National Gallery of Bangladesh; Harmony Art Foundation, India; Birmingham Museum of Art, Alabama; Saniza and Michael Collection, Hong Kong; Galila Barzilai Collection, Belgium; The Ilham Collection, Malaysia; Motwani Jadeja Foundation USA & India; Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation; Royal Ontario Museum, Canada, and Central Museum, The Netherlands.