Young Australian Charged for Allegedly Attaching Googly Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Artwork
A teenager from the Land Down Under has appeared in court after reportedly defacing a sizable blue sculpture of a mythical creature by affixing googly eyes to it.
Amelia Vanderhorst, 19 years old, appeared via phone at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on that day, facing with a single charge of damaging property.
Officials commented at the time of the September incident, the municipal authorities explained that surveillance video showed a individual putting artificial eyes on the sculpture, which locals have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.
Ms Vanderhorst did not enter a plea and told the judge she was unwell, as reported by media sources, with the magistrate advising her to secure a lawyer before her next court date in December.
A day after the alleged incident, the local mayor said that restoration to the popular public artwork would be expensive as the adhesive eyes could not be detached without harming the art piece.
“This wilful damage to a cherished community art is unacceptable and disrespectful,” Mayor Lynette Martin said in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is costly - it is also frustrating to those people of our society who have embraced the Blue Blob.”
She added the council 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 design.
Costing A$136,000 (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the sculpture represents a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater found in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.
