Australian Teen Faces Charges for Supposedly Placing Sticker Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Sculpture
A teenager from the Land Down Under has faced legal proceedings after allegedly defacing a sizable blue sculpture of a mythical creature by affixing googly eyes to it.
The 19-year-old, aged 19, appeared remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in South Australia on that day, facing with a single charge of property damage.
Officials commented at the moment of the recent event, the municipal authorities explained that CCTV footage showed a person placing fake eyes on the artwork, which locals have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.
The accused did not enter a plea and told the court she was unwell, according to news outlets, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a legal representative before her upcoming hearing in December.
A day after the reported event, the city leader said that restoration to the much-loved public artwork would be costly as the stickers could not be removed without damaging the art piece.
“This wilful damage to a cherished public artwork is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in mid-September. “It is not harmless fun, it is costly - it is also frustrating to those members of our community who have embraced Cast in Blue.”
The mayor added the local government would pursue the “significant” repair costs from those responsible for the damage.
When the sculpture was initially suggested, it drew mixed reactions from the area residents due to its price tag and design.
Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture represents a legendary giant animal, with the creators influenced by an prehistoric marsupial ant-eater found in local caves that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.
