Young Australian Faces Charges for Supposedly Placing Googly Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Artwork

A teenager from the Land Down Under has appeared in court after reportedly vandalizing a large art piece of a legendary being by applying googly eyes to it.

Amelia Vanderhorst, 19 years old, participated remotely at the local court in South Australia on that day, charged with one count of damaging property.

In a statement at the moment of the recent event, the municipal authorities said that surveillance video showed a individual putting artificial eyes on the sculpture, which locals have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.

The accused did not enter a plea and informed the judge she was ill, as reported by media sources, with the judge advising her to find a legal representative before her next court date in December.

A day after the alleged incident, the local mayor stated that repairs to the much-loved community sculpture would be costly as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be detached without harming the art piece.

“This intentional vandalism to a valued community art 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 members of our society who have welcomed the Blue Blob.”

She added the local government would pursue the “significant” repair costs from those responsible for the damage.

At the time the sculpture was initially suggested, it received mixed reactions from the area residents due to its cost and design.

Costing 136,000 Australian dollars (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; sixty-eight thousand pounds), the artwork represents a legendary giant animal, with the creators inspired by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial discovered in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.