Young Australian Charged for Supposedly Attaching Googly Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Artwork
A teenager from Australia has appeared in court after allegedly vandalizing a sizable blue sculpture of a legendary being by applying plastic eyes to it.
Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, participated remotely at the local court in the state of South Australia on Tuesday, charged with a single charge of property damage.
Officials commented at the time of the recent event, the local council explained that CCTV footage showed a individual placing artificial eyes on the sculpture, which locals have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.
Ms Vanderhorst did not enter a plea and told the judge she was unwell, according to media sources, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in December.
A day after the alleged incident, the city leader stated that repairs to the popular public artwork would be expensive as the adhesive eyes could not be removed without damaging the art piece.
“This wilful damage to a valued public artwork is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is costly - it is also frustrating to those members of our society who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”
She said the council would pursue the “substantial” repair costs from those responsible for the damage.
At the time the artwork was initially suggested, it received mixed reactions from the local community due to its cost and appearance.
Costing A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture depicts a mythical megafauna, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an prehistoric marsupial ant-eater discovered in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.
