Australian Teen Faces Charges for Supposedly Placing Googly Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Sculpture
A teenager from the Land Down Under has appeared in court after reportedly defacing a large blue sculpture of a mythical creature by applying googly eyes to it.
Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, participated via phone at the local court in the state of 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 CCTV footage showed a individual placing artificial eyes on the sculpture, which locals have nicknamed the “Blue Blob”.
The accused did not enter a plea and informed the judge she was ill, as reported by media sources, with the judge recommending her to secure a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in December.
A day after the alleged incident, the city leader stated that restoration to the popular community sculpture would be expensive as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be removed without harming the art piece.
“This intentional vandalism to a cherished community art is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is costly - it is also disappointing to those people of our community who have embraced the Blue Blob.”
The mayor said the local government would pursue the “significant” repair costs from those accountable for the vandalism.
When the sculpture was initially suggested, it received mixed reactions from the local community due to its price tag and appearance.
Costing 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; sixty-eight thousand pounds), the artwork represents a legendary giant animal, with the creators influenced by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial discovered in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.
