🔗 Share this article Australian Teen Faces Charges for Supposedly Placing Googly Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Sculpture The local council mentioned they could not remove the eyes without harming the artwork. A teenager from Australia has faced legal proceedings after allegedly vandalizing a sizable blue sculpture of a mythical creature by applying plastic eyes to it. The 19-year-old, aged 19, appeared via phone at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on that day, charged with a single charge of property damage. In a statement at the time of the September incident, the municipal authorities explained that CCTV footage captured a individual putting artificial eyes on the sculpture, which locals have nicknamed the “Blue Blob”. Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and told the court she was ill, as reported by news outlets, with the magistrate advising her to secure a legal representative before her upcoming hearing in December. The affected sculpture following the googly eyes were removed. The following day the reported event, the city leader stated that repairs to the popular public artwork would be costly as the stickers could not be detached without damaging the sculpture. “This wilful damage to a cherished public artwork is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is costly - it is also disappointing to those people of our community who have embraced the Blue Blob.” The mayor added the local government would pursue the “significant” restoration expenses from those accountable for the vandalism. At the time the sculpture was first proposed, it received varied responses from the local community due to its cost and appearance. Costing A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork represents a mythical megafauna, with the creators inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater discovered in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”. Cast in Blue is its official name but residents nicknamed the artwork the ‘Blue Blob’.