Quasi leaving Wellington after five years perched on city's art gallery

Quasi, a giant hand-face sculpture by New Zealand artist Ronnie van Hout, is leaving Wellington after spending five years atop the city's art gallery in Civic Square.

The art work was commissioned in 2016 for the roof of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, following the 2011 earthquake. It moved to its new home on top of the City Gallery in 2019.

Weather permitting, the sculpture will be removed from the City Gallery roof on Saturday.

Quasi is now returning to Australia, to a venue which is yet to be disclosed. Ronnie van Hout, born in Christchurch, is now living in Melbourne.

The sculpture is one of the most recognisable in the capital, with the 5m tall hand standing on two fingers with the artist's face protruding from the back. It is a partial self portrait, based on scans of the artist's face and hand.

The art work references Quasimodo, the bellringer in Victor Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.

Wellington Sculpture Trust Chair Jane Black said at the time of installation, it was the Trust's seventh temporary installation in the city.

"No other, before or since, arrived so dramatically into our street-scape. Quasi arrived on an azure-blue morning by helicopter and created a stir from day one, locally, nationally and internationally.

"He was a great cheerleader for Wellington's creativity, and as TIME magazine said, our 'quirkiness'.

"He will be missed and leaves a Quasi-shaped hole on our civic skyline."

Wellington City councillor Ben McNulty said he was personally sad to see Quasi leave the capital.

"I love Quasi, I love that he's polarising, I love that you're either for or against him, and I think he's such an interesting piece of modern art that brings life to that part of our city," he told Midday Report.

However, Wellingtonians could count themselves lucky they had hosted the sculpture as long as they had, he said.

"Initially he wasn't meant to stay as long as he did, the resource consent didn't actually allow for him to stay that long - the City Gallery extended it.

"But there's work that needs to be done in the City Gallery and I understand the artist wants to also have him back for a viewing somewhere else in Australia.

"So he was always intended to be temporary but he's become a fixture of the area and I'm sad to see him go."

Wheako Pōneke Experience Wellington director of exhibitions Judith Cooke said the sculpture has had a huge impact on Wellington, generating vigorous discussion.

"Quasi will continue to bring his big personality wherever he goes. It's been a privilege to share our home with him for five years."

The City Gallery has closed for two years due to construction work in Te Ngākau Civic Square, as well as building repairs, and is due to reopen in 2026. Cooke said it was still offering exhibitions at other locations.