Australian Teen Charged for Allegedly Attaching Googly Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Sculpture
A young person from Australia has appeared in court after allegedly defacing a large art piece of a mythical creature by affixing googly eyes to it.
The 19-year-old, aged 19, appeared remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on that day, facing with one count of damaging property.
In a statement at the time of the recent event, the municipal authorities said that CCTV footage showed a individual placing fake eyes on the artwork, which locals have nicknamed the “Blue Blob”.
The accused made no plea and told the judge she was ill, as reported by media sources, with the judge advising her to secure a legal representative before her upcoming hearing in December.
The following day the alleged incident, the local mayor stated that repairs to the popular community sculpture would be costly as the adhesive eyes could not be removed without damaging the sculpture.
“This intentional vandalism to a cherished public artwork is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in mid-September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those members of our community who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”
She added the local government would seek the “substantial” repair costs from those accountable for the vandalism.
At the time the sculpture was initially suggested, it drew mixed reactions from the local community due to its cost and appearance.
Costing A$136,000 (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; sixty-eight thousand pounds), the sculpture depicts a mythical megafauna, with the creators inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater discovered in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.
