Young Australian Charged for Supposedly Attaching Sticker Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Artwork
A young person from the Land Down Under has faced legal proceedings after allegedly defacing a large blue sculpture of a mythical creature by applying googly eyes to it.
The 19-year-old, 19 years old, appeared via phone at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on that day, facing with a single charge of property damage.
Officials commented at the time of the September incident, the local council said that CCTV footage showed a person placing fake eyes on the artwork, which locals have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.
Ms Vanderhorst made no 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 upcoming hearing in December.
A day after the reported event, the local mayor said that repairs to the much-loved public artwork would be expensive as the stickers were impossible to be removed without harming the art piece.
“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 members of our community who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”
The mayor said the council would seek the “substantial” restoration expenses from those accountable for the vandalism.
When the artwork was initially suggested, it drew mixed reactions from the local community due to its price tag and design.
Costing 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture represents a legendary giant animal, with the creators influenced by an ancient marsupial ant-eater found in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.
