🔗 Share this article Young Australian Charged for Supposedly Attaching Sticker Eyes on ‘Blue Blob’ Sculpture The local council stated they were unable to take off the eyes without damaging the artwork. A young person from Australia has faced legal proceedings after reportedly defacing a large art piece of a legendary being by affixing plastic eyes to it. Amelia Vanderhorst, 19 years old, participated remotely at the local court in South Australia on Tuesday, charged with one count of property damage. In a statement at the moment of the September incident, the municipal authorities said that CCTV footage showed a individual placing artificial eyes on the sculpture, which locals have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”. Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and told the court she was unwell, as reported by news outlets, with the judge recommending her to find a legal representative before her upcoming hearing in December. The affected sculpture after the googly eyes were removed. The following day the alleged incident, the city leader stated that restoration to the popular community sculpture would be costly as the stickers could not be removed without damaging the sculpture. “This wilful damage to a valued public artwork is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is costly - it is also disappointing to those members of our society who have embraced the Blue Blob.” She said the council would seek the “significant” restoration expenses from those accountable for the damage. When the artwork was first proposed, it received mixed reactions from the area residents due to its cost and appearance. Costing A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture represents a mythical megafauna, with the creators inspired by an ancient anteater-like marsupial found in nearby caverns that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”. Cast in Blue is its official name but locals nicknamed the piece the ‘Blue Blob’.