Young Australian Faces Charges for Allegedly Attaching Googly Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Sculpture
A young person from Australia has faced legal proceedings after allegedly vandalizing a large blue sculpture of a mythical creature by applying plastic eyes to it.
The 19-year-old, 19 years old, appeared remotely at the local court in the state of South Australia on Tuesday, facing with one count of property damage.
Officials commented at the moment of the September incident, the local council explained that CCTV footage captured a individual placing fake eyes on the sculpture, which locals have dubbed the “Blue Blob”.
Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and informed the judge she was ill, according to news outlets, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a legal representative before her upcoming hearing in December.
The following day the alleged incident, the city leader stated that repairs to the much-loved community sculpture would be expensive as the adhesive eyes could not be detached without damaging the sculpture.
“This intentional vandalism to a valued community art is unacceptable and disrespectful,” Mayor Lynette Martin said in mid-September. “It is not harmless fun, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those people of our society who have embraced the Blue Blob.”
The mayor said the council would pursue the “substantial” restoration expenses from those responsible for the damage.
At the time the artwork was initially suggested, it drew varied responses from the local community due to its price tag and appearance.
Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork represents a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers influenced by an ancient marsupial ant-eater discovered in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.
