Young Australian Charged for Allegedly Attaching Googly Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Sculpture
A teenager from Australia has appeared in court after reportedly defacing a sizable blue sculpture of a mythical creature by applying googly eyes to it.
Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, appeared via phone at the local court in South Australia on that day, facing with one count of property damage.
Officials commented at the time of the recent event, the local council said that CCTV footage captured a person putting fake eyes on the sculpture, which locals have dubbed the “Blue Blob”.
Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and informed the judge she was ill, as reported by news outlets, with the judge recommending her to secure a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in December.
A day after the alleged incident, the city leader said that repairs to the popular community sculpture would be costly as the stickers could not be detached without harming the art piece.
“This wilful damage to a cherished community art is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in mid-September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those people of our society who have embraced the Blue Blob.”
She said the council would pursue the “substantial” restoration expenses from those responsible for the damage.
At the time the sculpture was first proposed, it drew mixed reactions from the area residents due to its price tag and design.
Costing A$136,000 (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the artwork represents a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater discovered in nearby caverns that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.
