Australian Teen Faces Charges for Allegedly Placing Googly Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Artwork

A teenager from Australia has faced legal proceedings after allegedly defacing a sizable blue sculpture of a legendary being by applying googly eyes to it.

Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, appeared remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on Tuesday, facing with one count of damaging property.

In a statement at the moment of the September incident, the municipal authorities said that surveillance video showed a individual putting fake eyes on the artwork, which residents have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.

Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and informed the judge she was unwell, according to news outlets, with the judge recommending her to secure a lawyer before her next court date in the final month of the year.

A day after the reported event, the city leader said that restoration to the much-loved public artwork would be costly as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be removed without damaging the sculpture.

“This intentional vandalism to a valued public artwork is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is costly - it is also frustrating to those people of our community who have welcomed the Blue Blob.”

She said the council would pursue the “substantial” repair costs from those accountable for the vandalism.

When the artwork was initially suggested, it drew varied responses from the area residents due to its price tag and appearance.

Priced at A$136,000 (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the artwork depicts a legendary giant animal, with the creators influenced by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial discovered in local caves that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.