Australian Teen Charged for Supposedly Placing Googly Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Artwork
A teenager from Australia has appeared in court after allegedly vandalizing a sizable blue sculpture of a mythical creature by applying plastic eyes to it.
The 19-year-old, aged 19, participated via phone at the local court in 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 individual putting fake eyes on the artwork, which locals have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.
The accused made no plea and informed the judge she was unwell, according to news outlets, with the judge recommending her to secure a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in the final month of the year.
A day after the reported event, the city leader said that repairs to the popular community sculpture would be expensive as the stickers could not be removed without harming the art piece.
“This intentional vandalism to a valued public artwork is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in mid-September. “It is not harmless fun, it is costly - it is also frustrating to those members of our community who have embraced the Blue Blob.”
The mayor said the council would seek the “substantial” repair costs from those responsible for the vandalism.
At the time the artwork was initially suggested, it drew varied responses from the local community due to its cost and appearance.
Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork represents a legendary giant animal, with the creators inspired by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial found in nearby caverns that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.
