Kaygasiw Usul
- Gallery: Room 24
- Maker: Alick Tipoti
- Made in: Cairns
- Date: 2014
- Object type: mask
- Materials: fibreglass; resin (Polyester); wood (ply and balsa); bamboo; beeswax; nut (?); synthetic fibre; pearlshell; shell (Bu); fibre (raffia); cassowary feather; chicken feather; synthetic (enamel paint); nylon; varnish; eagle feather; plastic; peacock feather
- Museum number: 2015,2026.1
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
"Kaygasiw Usul" is a striking mask created in 2014 by Alick Tipoti, a renowned Torres Strait Islander artist. The mask is made from fibreglass, resin, wood, feathers, shell, and a range of natural and synthetic materials, showing a blend of traditional and modern craftsmanship.
This mask represents a "Kaygas" mask, a style linked to the shovel nose shark. It is inspired by an ancient mask in the British Museum and is associated with the Kaygasiw Usul, meaning "Milky Way" in the local language. The design features cassowary, chicken, and eagle feathers, a carved shark nose, and a mix of shells and beads. These elements are rich with meaning, including references to the four winds of Torres Strait Islander culture and the Wawmer, or frigate birds.
The mask is deeply connected to the zugubal—spiritual ancestors—and is used in a ceremonial dance that tells the story of the Milky Way's creation. Alick Tipoti inscribed a meaningful message on the mask's transport crate, underscoring its spiritual significance and cultural legacy.
See it in person
Kaygasiw Usul is on display in Room 24 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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