Young Australian Faces Charges for Allegedly Attaching Sticker Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Sculpture
A young person from the Land Down Under has appeared in court after allegedly defacing a sizable art piece of a legendary being by affixing googly eyes to it.
The 19-year-old, aged 19, participated remotely at the local court in the state of South Australia on that day, charged with one count of damaging property.
In a statement at the time of the recent event, the municipal authorities said that CCTV footage showed a individual placing fake eyes on the artwork, which locals have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.
Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and told the judge she was unwell, according to news outlets, with the judge recommending her to secure a legal representative before her next court date in December.
A day after the reported event, the local mayor said that restoration to the much-loved public artwork would be expensive as the adhesive eyes could not be removed without harming the sculpture.
“This intentional vandalism to a valued community art is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is pricey - it is also frustrating to those people of our community who have embraced Cast in Blue.”
The mayor said the council would pursue the “significant” repair costs from those accountable for the vandalism.
At the time the sculpture was initially suggested, it drew mixed reactions from the area residents due to its price tag and appearance.
Priced at A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork depicts a legendary giant animal, with the creators influenced by an ancient anteater-like marsupial discovered in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.
