Young Australian Charged for Allegedly Attaching Googly Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Artwork
A young person from the Land Down Under has appeared in court after allegedly defacing a large art piece of a legendary being by affixing googly eyes to it.
The 19-year-old, aged 19, appeared remotely at the local court in South Australia on Tuesday, facing with a single charge of property damage.
Officials commented at the moment of the recent event, the local council explained that surveillance video showed a person putting artificial eyes on the artwork, which locals have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.
Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and informed the judge she was unwell, according to news outlets, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a legal representative before her next court date in the final month of the year.
The following day the alleged incident, the local mayor stated that restoration to the much-loved community sculpture would be costly as the stickers were impossible to be detached without damaging the sculpture.
“This wilful damage to a valued public artwork is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in mid-September. “It is not harmless fun, it is pricey - it is also frustrating to those members of our society who have embraced the Blue Blob.”
The mayor said the local government would pursue the “significant” repair costs from those accountable for the vandalism.
At the time the artwork was initially suggested, it drew varied responses from the area residents due to its price tag and design.
Costing A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture represents a mythical megafauna, with the creators inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater found in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.
