A giant sculpture of a hand named Quasi, created by Australia-based sculptor Ronnie van Hout, has been perched on the roof of an art gallery in Wellington, New Zealand, for the past five years. The 16-foot sculpture features an unsmiling human face and has evoked a range of emotions from residents, including horror, revulsion, and delight.
After five years of provoking controversy, Quasi is set to be removed from the City Gallery roof this week and relocated to a new home. The sculpture, made of steel, polystyrene, and resin, was based on scans of van Hout's hand and face and was named in part after the character Quasimodo from Victor Hugo's novel 'The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.'
Quasi first appeared in an art gallery in Christchurch in 2016 before being moved to Wellington in 2019. Initially met with skepticism and criticism, the sculpture gradually grew on the city's residents over time.
Despite the mixed reactions, many Wellingtonians have developed a fondness for Quasi, considering it a staple of the city's skyline. However, the decision to remove the sculpture has elicited a range of responses from dismay to relief among the community.
Quasi is scheduled to be lifted from the roof by helicopter and transported to an undisclosed location in Australia. The artist, van Hout, expressed that while the sculpture will be missed, all things must come to an end eventually.
The removal of Quasi marks the end of an era for Wellington, where the sculpture has been a prominent feature during challenging times for the city. While some will miss Quasi, others are looking forward to a change in the city's skyline.
