Australian Teen Charged for Supposedly Attaching Googly Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Artwork
A young person from Australia has faced legal proceedings after reportedly defacing a large art piece of a mythical creature by affixing googly eyes to it.
The 19-year-old, 19 years old, appeared via phone at the local court in the state of South Australia on that day, charged with one count of damaging property.
Officials commented at the time of the recent event, the local council explained that surveillance video captured a individual placing fake eyes on the sculpture, which residents have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.
Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and told the court she was unwell, as reported by news outlets, with the judge advising her to find a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in December.
The following day the reported event, the local mayor stated that repairs to the popular public artwork would be costly as the stickers were impossible to be removed without damaging the art piece.
“This wilful damage to a valued community art is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in mid-September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is costly - it is also frustrating to those members of our society who have embraced Cast in Blue.”
The mayor added the council would pursue the “substantial” repair costs from those responsible for the damage.
When the sculpture was initially suggested, it received mixed reactions from the area residents due to its cost and design.
Costing 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture depicts a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient anteater-like marsupial found in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.
