One of Wellington’s most recognisable sculptures leaves the roof of City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi this week, after five years surveying the city and its inhabitants.
Quasiby Ronnie van Hout was initially commissioned by Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū in 2016, to grace the roof of Christchurch Art Gallery following the 2011 earthquake.
The giant hybrid face-hand, a partial self-portrait of the artist, is based on scans of the artist’s own body parts. Quasi references Quasimodo, the bellringer in Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. Misshapen and misunderstood, he was hated by the people but turned out to be a great tragic-romantic hero – a beautiful soul.
The five-metre-tall sculpture moved to its new home on top of City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi in 2019 in a joint project with Wellington Sculpture Trust and City Gallery Wellington, with support from Wellington City Council, Wellington Community Trust, and Richard Burrell. It is expected to be removed on Saturday 2 November, weather permitting.
Ronnie van Hout was born in Christchurch, and now lives in Melbourne where Quasiwas made.
Quasi is now returning to Australia, to a venue which is yet to be disclosed.
Wheako Pōneke Experience Wellington Ringatohu Titohuranga Director of Exhibitions Judith Cooke says it has been a privilege to provide a home for Quasi who has had a huge impact on Wellington, generating vigorous discussion about art, in keeping with the gallery.
“City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi has temporarily left home due to construction work in Civic Square. We may have left the building, but over the next two years we are continuing to offer exhibitions with an edge to test art’s boundaries, challenge our audiences and invite debate in new locations with partnerships with National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, The Dowse and a public art project through the Courtenay Place light boxes in February.
“We’re looking forward to bringing vibrancy back to the heart of Wellington in 2026 when the gallery returns to an earthquake-strengthened future-proofed building in Te Ngākau and Nōku te Ao Capital E moves into Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui.
“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.”
Wellington Sculpture Trust Chair Jane Black says at the time of installation, Quasi was the Trust’s seventh temporary installation in the city.
“No other, before or since, arrived so dramatically into our street-scape. Quasiarrived 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.”
The uplift programme will be managed by Sparrow Construction Limited (SCL) working with Wellington Helicopters, Banks Cranes and the scaffolder.
City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi has just closed Generation X: 50 Artworks from the Chartwell Collection at Te Papa and is now showing Derek Jarman: Delphinium Days at The Dowse Art Museum and JulianHooper: The Letter at National Library of New Zealand.
