Australian Teen Faces Charges for Supposedly Attaching Googly Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Artwork

A young person from Australia has faced legal proceedings after allegedly defacing a sizable blue sculpture of a legendary being by applying plastic eyes to it.

Amelia Vanderhorst, 19 years old, participated via phone at the local court in the state of South Australia on Tuesday, charged with one count of property damage.

Officials commented at the moment of the recent event, the local council explained that surveillance video captured a individual placing fake eyes on the artwork, which locals have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.

Ms Vanderhorst did not enter a plea and told the judge she was ill, according to media sources, with the judge recommending her to find a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in the final month of the year.

A day after the reported event, the local mayor stated that repairs to the much-loved community sculpture would be expensive as the stickers were impossible to be removed without harming the art piece.

“This wilful damage to a cherished community art is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is costly - it is also disappointing to those members of our society who have welcomed the Blue Blob.”

She added the local government would pursue the “significant” restoration expenses from those responsible for the damage.

At the time the artwork was initially suggested, it drew mixed reactions from the area residents due to its cost and design.

Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork depicts a legendary giant animal, with the creators influenced by an ancient marsupial ant-eater found in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.