Australian Teen Charged for Allegedly Placing Googly Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Artwork
A teenager from Australia has appeared in court after reportedly defacing a large blue sculpture of a mythical creature by applying googly eyes to it.
Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, participated remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on Tuesday, charged with a single charge of property damage.
Officials commented at the moment of the recent event, the municipal authorities explained that surveillance video showed a individual placing artificial eyes on the artwork, which locals have nicknamed the “Blue Blob”.
The accused did not enter a plea and informed the court she was unwell, as reported by media sources, with the judge recommending her to secure a lawyer before her next court date in the final month of the year.
The following day the alleged incident, the local mayor stated that restoration to the popular public artwork would be expensive as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be removed without damaging the art piece.
“This intentional vandalism to a cherished public artwork is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those members of our community who have embraced the Blue Blob.”
She added the local government would seek the “significant” repair costs from those responsible for the vandalism.
At the time the artwork was initially suggested, it received varied responses from the area residents due to its price tag and design.
Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the artwork depicts a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers influenced by an ancient marsupial ant-eater found in nearby caverns that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.
