Australian Teen Faces Charges for Allegedly Attaching Googly Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Artwork
A young person from Australia has faced legal proceedings after allegedly vandalizing a large blue sculpture 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, charged with a single charge of property damage.
In a statement at the time of the September incident, the local council explained that surveillance video captured a individual placing fake eyes on the sculpture, which locals have dubbed the “Blue Blob”.
The accused made no plea and informed the judge she was unwell, as reported by media sources, with the judge recommending her to secure a lawyer before her next court date in December.
A day after the reported event, the city leader stated that restoration to the much-loved community sculpture would be costly as the adhesive eyes could not be detached without harming 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 pricey - it is also disappointing to those people of our community who have embraced the Blue Blob.”
She said the local government would seek the “substantial” restoration expenses from those accountable for the vandalism.
When the sculpture was initially suggested, it drew varied responses from the local community due to its price tag and design.
Priced at A$136,000 (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; sixty-eight thousand pounds), the sculpture represents a legendary giant animal, with the creators influenced by an ancient marsupial ant-eater found in local caves that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.
