Young Australian Charged for Supposedly Attaching Sticker Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Sculpture
A teenager from the Land Down Under has faced legal proceedings after reportedly defacing a large blue sculpture of a legendary being by affixing googly eyes to it.
The 19-year-old, 19 years old, participated remotely at the local court in the state of South Australia on Tuesday, facing with a single charge of damaging property.
In a statement at the time of the recent event, the municipal authorities said that surveillance video captured a individual placing fake eyes on the artwork, which locals have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.
The accused did not enter a plea and informed the judge she was unwell, as reported by news outlets, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a lawyer before her next court date in the final month of the year.
A day after the reported event, the city leader said that restoration to the popular community sculpture would be costly as the adhesive eyes could not be detached without harming the art piece.
“This wilful damage to a valued community art is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those people of our community who have embraced Cast in Blue.”
She said the local government would seek the “significant” restoration expenses from those responsible for the damage.
When the artwork was initially suggested, it drew mixed reactions from the local community due to its cost and appearance.
Costing A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture represents a mythical megafauna, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient anteater-like marsupial found in nearby caverns that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.