🔗 Share this article Young Australian Charged for Allegedly Attaching Googly Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Artwork The local council stated they could not remove the eyes without damaging the artwork. A young person from the Land Down Under has faced legal proceedings after allegedly vandalizing a large blue sculpture 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 Tuesday, facing with one count of damaging property. Officials commented at the time of the September incident, the municipal authorities explained that surveillance video captured a person putting fake eyes on the artwork, which locals have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”. Ms Vanderhorst did not enter a plea and told the judge she was ill, as reported by news outlets, with the magistrate recommending her to find a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in December. The affected sculpture following the stickers were removed. The following day the reported event, the local mayor said that restoration to the popular public artwork would be expensive as the adhesive eyes could not be removed without damaging the sculpture. “This wilful damage to a valued public artwork is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those members of our society who have embraced the Blue Blob.” She added the local government would pursue the “significant” restoration expenses from those accountable for the vandalism. When the artwork was initially suggested, it received mixed reactions from the area residents due to its price tag and design. Priced at A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork represents a legendary giant animal, with the creators inspired by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial discovered in nearby caverns that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”. The sculpture is its formal title but residents called the piece the ‘Blue Blob’.