Young Australian Faces Charges for Allegedly Placing Sticker Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Artwork
A young person from Australia has appeared in court after reportedly vandalizing a sizable art piece of a mythical creature by affixing googly eyes to it.
The 19-year-old, 19 years old, appeared remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in South Australia on that day, facing with one count of damaging property.
Officials commented at the moment of the recent event, the local council explained that CCTV footage showed a person placing artificial eyes on the artwork, which residents have nicknamed the “Blue Blob”.
Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and told the court she was unwell, according to media sources, with the judge recommending her to find a legal representative before her upcoming hearing in December.
A day after the alleged incident, the local mayor stated that restoration to the popular community sculpture would be costly as the adhesive eyes could not be detached without harming the art piece.
“This wilful damage to a valued community art is inappropriate and disrespectful,” Mayor Lynette Martin said in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is costly - it is also frustrating to those members of our society who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”
She added the council would pursue the “significant” repair costs from those responsible for the damage.
When the sculpture was first proposed, it drew varied responses from the local community due to its cost and appearance.
Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture depicts a mythical megafauna, with the creators inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater found in nearby caverns that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.
