Australian Teen Faces Charges for Allegedly Attaching Googly Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Artwork
A young person from Australia has faced legal proceedings after reportedly defacing a large blue sculpture of a legendary being by affixing plastic eyes to it.
Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, participated remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on Tuesday, facing with one count of property damage.
Officials commented at the time of the recent event, the municipal authorities explained that CCTV footage captured a person placing fake eyes on the sculpture, which residents have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.
Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and informed the judge she was unwell, according to news outlets, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a lawyer before her next court date in December.
A day after the alleged incident, the local mayor stated that repairs to the much-loved public artwork would be expensive as the adhesive eyes could not be detached without damaging the art piece.
“This wilful damage to a valued public artwork is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is pricey - it is also frustrating to those members of our society who have welcomed the Blue Blob.”
She added the local government would seek the “substantial” restoration expenses from those accountable for the damage.
When the sculpture was first proposed, it received varied responses from the local community due to its price tag and design.
Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture represents a legendary giant animal, with the creators inspired by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial discovered in nearby caverns that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.
