Overview

• Quasi, a 16-foot sculpture by Ronnie van Hout, features a hand with a human face and has been a fixture on the City Gallery Wellington roof since 2019.
• Originally installed in Christchurch in 2016, the sculpture moved to Wellington, where it sparked mixed reactions ranging from delight to revulsion.
• Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau expressed relief at the sculpture's departure, while others in the community have come to embrace it as an iconic part of the city.
• The sculpture's removal was described by City Council member Ben McNulty as a defining moment for Wellington, reflecting its polarizing impact.
• Quasi will be airlifted to an undisclosed location in Australia, leaving a 'Quasi-shaped hole' in Wellington's skyline, according to the Wellington Sculpture Trust.