Christchurch Art Gallery hands over Quasi sculpture to capital

Christchurch is waving goodbye to Quasi, the huge hand sculpture perched on top of the Art Gallery.

Created by Ronnie van Hout, the five-metre-tall steel, polystyrene and resin piece, which captures the internationally renowned artist’s hand and facial features, is heading north.

Known for mixing the surreal with the serious, the Christchurch-born multimedia creative focuses on massive dramatic figures that spark debate and engagement.

Quasi is on the move after overseeing the city for several years.

Installed in the central city in June 2016, Quasi will next sit atop City Gallery Wellington from May.

First, the debate-provoking work will undergo a facelift from its creator after being battered by the winds and rain of Christchurch.

It has been lifted off the gallery roof by a crane and unbolted so that the two pieces can be packaged and shipped to its new home.

Gallery Head Curator Lara Strongman says Quasi has prompted a lot of debate during its stay.

“I believe that Quasi captures something of the quirky, restless, creative spirit of Christchurch,” Dr Strongman says.

“I’ve noticed that people tend to have a strong point of view about the work, which is great.

“It’s been photographed continually, and talked about widely on social media in New Zealand and internationally. Tourist buses stop so people can photograph the work, and people do seek it out.

“It was commissioned for the site, and produced by an artist who knows this city and its culture very well.

“Like all his work, it’s essentially enigmatic – you make your own reading of the work, and have your own emotional response to its presence there on the skyline.”

Dr Strongman says Quasi has struck a chord with audiences, starting conversations that continue well beyond the gallery’s walls – and rooftop.

“We’ve loved hosting Quasi on our gallery roof for the past couple of years and are going to miss it very much.”