Massive all-seeing hand shakes up city skyline

A five-metre-tall sculpture of a hand with a face has appeared on a rooftop in the View Street arts precinct.

Made of polystyrene, steel and resin, the work called Quasi is based on scans of artist Ronnie van Hout’s own body parts and was commissioned in 2016 by Christchurch Art Gallery.

Ten years ago, it prompted an opinion piece by art critic Warren Feeney – Ten Reasons Why Christchurch Art Gallery’s Quasi Must Go.

Referencing Quasimodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the controversial partial self-portrait has also appeared on top of the Wellington Art Gallery and at Mona’s Dark Mofo festival in Tasmania last year.

The work is hoped to serve as a key activation for View Street while the Bendigo Art Gallery continues to undergo redevelopment.

The gallery’s curatorial manager Lauren Ellis said Quasi is an activation not like anything else seen before in Greater Bendigo, inviting people to look above and assess it for themselves.

“Ronnie van Hout is a widely celebrated artist, known for his playful, uncanny, and sometimes polarising works,” she said.

“He is known for his unsettling blend of humour and tragedy.

“His works never fail to elicit a response from people – sometimes repulsion, sometimes empathy, always curiosity, and this makes him one of Australia’s most compelling and sought-after artists.”

Ellis said in New Zealand and around the world the sculpture has attracted plenty of controversy, but many locals and visitors have loved him.

“The fact the artwork was discussed so widely was important,” she said.

“Quasi’s presence in the Bendigo skyline will be a reminder of the power of art in creating conversations and provoking emotional responses.”

Ellis said it is also important to bring a high-profile artwork to the arts precinct while the gallery is temporarily closed.

“People will be keen to share their personal opinions about Quasi,” she said. “Love it or loathe it, the giant uncanny hand will draw people to View Street and the city centre.”