Australian Teen Charged for Allegedly Attaching Sticker Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Artwork
A teenager from Australia has faced legal proceedings after allegedly defacing a large art piece of a legendary being by applying googly eyes to it.
Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, participated remotely at the local court in South Australia on Tuesday, facing with a single charge of damaging property.
Officials commented at the time of the September incident, the municipal authorities explained that surveillance video showed a individual putting artificial eyes on the sculpture, which locals have nicknamed the “Blue Blob”.
Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and told the judge she was ill, according to news outlets, with the judge recommending her to secure a legal representative before her next court date in December.
A day after the reported event, the local mayor stated that restoration to the popular community sculpture would be costly as the stickers could not be detached without damaging the sculpture.
“This intentional vandalism to a cherished community art is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is costly - it is also frustrating to those members of our community who have embraced the Blue Blob.”
She said the local government would pursue the “substantial” repair costs from those responsible for the vandalism.
When the artwork was initially suggested, it received varied responses from the area residents due to its price tag and appearance.
Costing A$136,000 (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the artwork represents a legendary giant animal, with the creators inspired by an ancient anteater-like marsupial found in nearby caverns that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.