Young Australian Charged for Supposedly Placing Sticker Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Artwork
A young person from Australia has appeared in court after allegedly vandalizing a sizable blue sculpture of a legendary being by affixing googly eyes to it.
The 19-year-old, 19 years old, participated remotely at the local court in the state of South Australia on that day, facing with a single charge of property damage.
Officials commented at the moment of the recent event, the municipal authorities said that CCTV footage captured a person putting fake eyes on the sculpture, which residents have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.
The accused made no plea and told the court she was unwell, according to news outlets, with the magistrate recommending 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 much-loved community sculpture would be expensive as the adhesive eyes could not be removed without harming the art piece.
“This wilful damage to a cherished community art is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those members of our community who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”
She added the council would seek the “substantial” repair costs from those accountable for the damage.
At the time the artwork was first proposed, it drew varied responses from the area residents due to its cost and appearance.
Costing A$136,000 (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the artwork depicts a mythical megafauna, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater found in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.
