Young Australian Charged for Allegedly Placing Googly Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Sculpture
A teenager from the Land Down Under has faced legal proceedings after reportedly defacing a large art piece of a mythical creature by affixing googly eyes to it.
The 19-year-old, aged 19, appeared remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in South Australia on that day, facing with one count of damaging property.
Officials commented at the moment of the recent event, the municipal authorities explained that CCTV footage showed a person placing fake eyes on the artwork, which locals have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.
The accused made no plea and informed the court she was ill, according to media sources, with the magistrate advising her to find a legal representative before her next court date in December.
A day after the reported event, the city leader said that repairs to the popular community sculpture would be expensive as the adhesive eyes could not be removed without harming the sculpture.
“This intentional vandalism to a cherished public artwork is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in mid-September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is costly - it is also disappointing to those people of our society who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”
The mayor said the council would seek the “substantial” restoration expenses from those responsible for the damage.
At the time the sculpture was first proposed, it received varied responses from the local community due to its cost and design.
Priced at A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork represents a legendary giant animal, with the creators influenced by an ancient anteater-like marsupial found in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.