Young Australian Faces Charges for Allegedly Placing Sticker Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Sculpture

A young person from Australia has appeared in court after allegedly vandalizing a large art piece of a legendary being by applying plastic eyes to it.

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

Officials commented at the time of the September incident, the local council explained that surveillance video showed a person placing artificial eyes on the sculpture, which locals have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.

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

The following day the alleged incident, the city leader said that repairs 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 public artwork is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in mid-September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those people of our community who have welcomed the Blue Blob.”

The mayor said the council would pursue the “significant” restoration expenses from those accountable for the damage.

When the artwork was initially suggested, it received mixed reactions from the area residents due to its cost and design.

Priced at A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork represents a mythical megafauna, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater found in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.