Australian Teen Charged for Supposedly Attaching Googly Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Sculpture
A teenager from Australia has faced legal proceedings after reportedly vandalizing a sizable art piece of a mythical creature by affixing plastic eyes to it.
The 19-year-old, 19 years old, participated remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on that day, charged with one count of damaging property.
Officials commented at the moment of the recent event, the municipal authorities said that surveillance video showed a individual placing artificial eyes on the artwork, which residents have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.
Ms Vanderhorst did not enter a plea and informed the court she was ill, according to news outlets, with the judge advising her to find a legal representative before her upcoming hearing in the final month of the year.
A day after the reported event, the city leader stated that restoration to the popular community sculpture would be expensive as the stickers were impossible to be detached without harming the art piece.
“This wilful damage to a valued public artwork is unacceptable and disrespectful,” Mayor Lynette Martin said in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those people of our society who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”
The mayor added the local government would seek the “significant” restoration expenses from those responsible for the vandalism.
When the sculpture was initially suggested, it drew varied responses from the area residents due to its cost and appearance.
Priced at A$136,000 (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the sculpture represents a legendary giant animal, with the creators influenced by an ancient anteater-like marsupial found in local caves that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.
