🔗 Share this article Young Australian Charged for Allegedly Placing Sticker Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Sculpture Authorities stated they were unable to remove the eyes without harming the artwork. A young person from the Land Down Under has appeared in court after reportedly defacing a large blue sculpture of a mythical creature by affixing plastic eyes to it. Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, participated remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in South Australia on that day, facing with a single charge of damaging property. Officials commented at the moment of the recent event, the municipal authorities explained that CCTV footage captured a person putting 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 media sources, with the judge advising her to secure a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in December. The damaged sculpture following the googly eyes were taken off. A day after the reported event, the city leader stated that repairs to the popular public artwork would be costly as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be removed without damaging the sculpture. “This wilful damage to a cherished community art is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in mid-September. “It is not harmless fun, it is costly - it is also disappointing to those members of our community who have welcomed the Blue Blob.” The mayor said the council would pursue the “significant” repair costs from those accountable for the vandalism. At the time the sculpture was first proposed, it drew mixed reactions from the local community due to its price tag and design. Priced at A$136,000 ($89,000; sixty-eight thousand pounds), the sculpture depicts a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial found in local caves that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”. Cast in Blue is its official name but residents nicknamed the artwork the ‘Blue Blob’.