An Australian teenager has appeared in court after allegedly vandalising a public artwork by sticking googly eyes on it.
Nineteen-year-old Amelia Vanderhorst joined the proceedings virtually via mobile phone at the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in South Australia, where she faced one count of property damage, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
Authorities said CCTV footage captured a person attaching the plastic eyes to the large blue sculpture, nicknamed the “Blue Blob” by locals, in September.
Vanderhorst did not enter a plea and told the court she was unwell. The magistrate advised her to seek legal representation ahead of her next hearing scheduled for December.
The sculpture, officially titled “Cast in Blue,” is a Sh17.5 million ($136,000) public artwork inspired by prehistoric megafauna fossils found in the Mount Gambier region, including an enormous ancient marsupial anteater.
Its bright blue colour was chosen to echo the city’s famous Blue Lake.
Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin said repairing the piece would be costly, as the googly eyes could not be removed without damaging the sculpture.
“This wilful damage to a valued public artwork is inappropriate and disrespectful,” Martin told ABC. “It’s not harmless fun; it’s costly and frustrating to those in our community who have embraced Cast in Blue.”