Young Australian Charged for Supposedly Attaching Googly Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Sculpture
A young person from the Land Down Under has faced legal proceedings after allegedly vandalizing a sizable blue sculpture of a mythical creature by applying plastic eyes to it.
Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, participated via phone at the local court in South Australia on that day, charged with one count of damaging property.
In a statement at the time of the recent event, the local council said that surveillance video captured a person putting artificial eyes on the sculpture, which locals have dubbed the “Blue Blob”.
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 legal representative before her next court date in December.
The following day the reported event, the city leader said that restoration to the much-loved community sculpture would be expensive as the adhesive eyes could not be removed without harming the sculpture.
“This intentional vandalism to a valued community art is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those people of our society who have embraced Cast in Blue.”
The mayor added the local government would pursue the “significant” repair costs from those accountable for the vandalism.
At the time the sculpture was initially suggested, it received varied responses from the local community due to its price tag and appearance.
Costing A$136,000 (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; sixty-eight thousand pounds), the artwork represents a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater found in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.
