Australian Teen Faces Charges for Supposedly Placing Googly Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Sculpture
A young person from Australia has appeared in court after reportedly defacing a large art piece of a mythical creature by affixing googly eyes to it.
Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, participated remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in South Australia on Tuesday, facing with one count of damaging property.
In a statement at the time of the recent event, the municipal authorities explained that CCTV footage captured a individual putting artificial eyes on the artwork, which locals have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.
Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and told the judge she was unwell, as reported by news outlets, with the magistrate recommending her to find a legal representative before her next court date in December.
The following day the reported event, the local mayor stated that restoration to the popular community sculpture 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 inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those people of our community who have embraced the Blue Blob.”
The mayor added the council would pursue the “significant” restoration expenses from those accountable for the vandalism.
At the time the artwork was first proposed, it drew varied responses from the area residents due to its price tag and appearance.
Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the sculpture depicts a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers influenced by an ancient anteater-like marsupial found in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.
