Is it a hand-face? Or a face-hand? I don't know. In any case, the five metre high artwork entitled "Quasi" is currently disturbing residents and tourists in the New Zealand capital Wellington.
In this country, we are used to art in public spaces leading to discussions. Most recently, the harbour crane made waves in Zurich in 2014 and led to the construction of harbour cranes being banned in Switzerland's largest city in future. The centre-right parties in particular criticised the huge art object on Limmatquai as being too expensive. The crane cost taxpayers 700,000 francs. Now another work of art is causing a furore. On the other side of the world in New Zealand.
The sculpture entitled "Quasi" is by artist Ronnie van Hout. It is significantly smaller than the Zurich harbour crane, but is enthroned on the roof of an art museum in a similarly imposing manner. The whimsical hand-face looks down on you from above as you stroll around. According to the museum's official website, it is a self-portrait of the artist from 2016. The title "Quasi" is a reference to Quasimodo, the hunchbacked Hunchback of Notre Dame from Victor Hugo's 1831 novel, and Wellington residents are complaining on Twitter about what this "nightmare" is supposed to be. "Monstrous" and "malicious" is the artwork, users of the social network complain. The reactions to the harbour crane in Zurich in 2014 were very similar.
By means of an initiative, the SVP and the Young Liberals wanted to prevent the construction of the art object. It took too long. The art project had long been history by the time the initiative was approved by the city parliament. What remained was Article 43 b) in the city's building and zoning regulations, which prohibits the construction of harbour cranes. A ban that is unlikely to ever be applied.
The artwork will be on display in Wellington for the next three years, provided Wellington does not prohibit the construction of large hands in the city centre.
What do you say to art in public space?
The competition has ended.
Image harbour crane: Dietrich Michael Weidmann Wikimedia Commons
Pictures "Quasi": Citygallery Wellington
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