Reclaiming Beauty: Tamanna Liza's Artistic Approach to Colourism and Societal Beauty Standards

Emerging in the socially engaged art scene, Tamanna Liza (b. 1996) is one of the promising voices. Based in Dhaka, Liza fearlessly addresses Bangladesh's critical sociopolitical and gender issues with global relevance. Sculpting and weaving metaphorical narratives with organic and synthetic materials, she offers visual commentaries that challenge audiences to confront harsh truths rooted within culture, normativity, and everyday life.

A painting-major graduate from Jahangirnagar University, she is pursuing an MA in Art and Design at Beaconhouse National University, Lahore. This multidisciplinary background has provided her with the technical and conceptual tools to delve deeply into the issues of identity, gender, and social hierarchy. In 2024, Tamanna received a project grant from Oxfam Novib and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute under the "Stories for Change Phase II" initiative—an endorsement of her impactful practice. She represented Britto Arts Trust at India Art Fair 2025, which significantly broadened her reach to the South Asian audience, and was a groundbreaking moment for her career. Some recent exhibitions she has participated in include "Shohornama II" at Bengal Shilpalay, the 25th National Art Exhibition at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, and group shows at EMK Center, Edge Gallery, and others.

An essential aspect of Tamanna's most recent works is a relentless examination of the focus on colourism. In her concept note, she outlines an issue that, although stems from a very personal angle, is collective in nature and illustrates the socio-psychological impact of skin tone bias on young girls, brides, and working-class women. For a long time, owing to media images, cultural conditioning, and society, have associated beauty, success, and desirability with fairness. Skin wreaks havoc has largely shaped women's self-perception and agency.

Art has the power to transform society. Tamanna devises bold artworks that portray the personal struggles of societal colorism from the perspective of herself and the people around her. In her installations and mixed-media works, the intimacy is raw and real, pouring out this internalized agony of those who suffer beneath these colorist ideologies. These biases have fostered division, and through her art, Tamanna seeks to reveal the harm and the need for compassion-based dialogue, inviting the audience to connect with her personal narrative.

The synthesis of activism and aesthetics helps Tamanna underscore the role of art as a mirror and a change instigator. Colorism is one of the many discriminatory practices, unfortunately, common in societies today; in a world where many choose silence, Tamanna's voice comes as a bold expression. Tamanna's work continues to be a pivotal force in redefining beauty standards and social norms, sparking change guided by contemporary art and offering hope for a more inclusive future.