Wellington says goodbye to Giant Hand Sculpture

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In Wellington, New Zealand, a large and unusual sculpture known as Quasi is being taken down from atop the City Gallery after five years.

This 16.4-foot-tall sculpture, created by artist Ronnie van Hout, features a giant hand with a human face based on van Hout’s own features. Since its arrival in 2019, Quasi has stirred mixed reactions, with many people on social media describing it as “disturbing.”

Jane Black, Chair of the Wellington Sculpture Trust, acknowledged that while the sculpture may have shocked some, it became a unique symbol of the city’s creativity. In a City Council release, she described how Quasi arrived dramatically by helicopter and added a distinct touch to the skyline, even earning recognition from Time magazine for reflecting Wellington’s “quirkiness.”

The sculpture will be taken down on Saturday and is set to be shipped to Australia, though its new location has yet to be announced.

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SMART Prep | Quick Question 210647

Mia wrote a report about volunteering at her local library in Wellington. Each Saturday she shelved returned books, helped younger children find suitable stories, and checked that the reading corner stayed tidy. She found that the most popular books were adventure and animal stories. Mia said the library was important because it gave people free access to information, quiet study space, and community programmes. She finished by noting that even small jobs helped the library run smoothly.

Which option is the best summary of Mia’s report?

  

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November 30, 2025