🔗 Share this article

A young person from the Land Down Under has faced legal proceedings after reportedly defacing a sizable art piece of a mythical creature by affixing googly eyes to it.

Amelia Vanderhorst, 19 years old, appeared via phone at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on that day, facing with one count of damaging property.

Officials commented at the time of the September incident, the municipal authorities explained that CCTV footage captured a person placing fake eyes on the artwork, which residents have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.

The accused did not enter a plea and informed the judge she was ill, according to media sources, with the judge advising her to find a legal representative before her upcoming hearing in December.

The following day the alleged incident, the city leader stated that repairs to the much-loved community sculpture would be expensive as the adhesive eyes could not be removed without harming the art piece.

“This intentional vandalism to a valued public artwork is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is costly - it is also frustrating to those members of our community who have welcomed the Blue Blob.”

The mayor said the council would pursue the “significant” restoration expenses from those responsible for the damage.

When the artwork was initially suggested, it received mixed reactions from the local community due to its cost and appearance.

Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork depicts a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial found in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.