Zhalmaukart's Haunting Mask Reimagines Kazakh Folklore in London Exhibition
A striking papier-mâché mask of the fictional character Zhalmaukart has been unveiled at a major contemporary art exhibition in London. The piece is the focal point of artist Lazzat Argynghazinova's project, Escape from the Fig Tree Forest, drawing inspiration from Kazakh folklore and mythology.
The character's name pays homage to Zhalmauyz Kempiru, a figure from Kazakh oral traditions. In folklore, she is often portrayed as a one-breasted, child-snatching witch of the steppes. Argynghazinova's 2025 novel, also titled Escape from the Fig Tree Forest, reimagines this figure as a nuanced anti-heroine fleeing colonial oppression in a dreamlike forest.
Zhalmaukart, the masked creation, represents a force of nature—neither purely good nor evil. The artist describes the character as existing outside traditional moral boundaries. The handcrafted mask is part of a larger artistic universe that Argynghazinova explores through animation, illustration, and storytelling.
The exhibition itself attracted widespread interest, with long queues forming outside the venue. Visitors gathered to view the mask and engage with the project's blend of folklore, feminism, and postcolonial themes.
The London exhibition has brought renewed attention to Argynghazinova's work, particularly her reinterpretation of Kazakh myth. The mask of Zhalmaukart now stands as a symbol of her broader creative vision, merging ancient storytelling with contemporary artistic expression.
