Young Australian Charged for Allegedly Attaching Sticker Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Sculpture

Damaged sculpture with eyes attached — Authorities mentioned they were unable to take off the eyes without damaging the artwork.

A young person from Australia has faced legal proceedings after reportedly vandalizing a large blue sculpture of a legendary being by affixing plastic eyes to it.

Amelia Vanderhorst, 19 years old, appeared via phone at the local court in the state of South Australia on that day, facing with one count of property damage.

In a statement at the time of the recent event, the municipal authorities said that surveillance video captured a person placing fake eyes on the artwork, which residents have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.

The accused did not enter a plea and told the judge she was unwell, as reported by media sources, with the magistrate advising her to find a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in the final month of the year.

Sculpture after eye removal — The damaged sculpture following the googly eyes were removed.

The following day the reported event, the city leader said that repairs to the popular public artwork would be costly as the stickers were impossible to be detached without damaging the sculpture.

“This intentional vandalism to a cherished community art is inappropriate 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 society who have welcomed the Blue Blob.”

The mayor said the local government would pursue the “significant” repair costs from those responsible for the damage.

When the sculpture was initially suggested, it received mixed reactions from the area residents due to its price tag and design.

Priced at A$136,000 (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the sculpture represents a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers influenced by an ancient marsupial ant-eater discovered in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.