🔗 Share this article Young Australian Charged for Allegedly Attaching Sticker Eyes on ‘Cast in Blue’ Sculpture Authorities stated they were unable to take off the eyes without harming the artwork. A teenager from Australia has faced legal proceedings after allegedly vandalizing a sizable art piece of a mythical creature by affixing googly eyes to it. The 19-year-old, aged 19, participated remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on Tuesday, charged with a single charge of damaging property. Officials commented at the time of the September incident, the local council explained that CCTV footage showed a individual placing artificial eyes on the artwork, which residents have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”. The accused did not enter a plea and informed the court she was ill, according to media sources, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a legal representative before her next court date in December. The affected sculpture following the stickers were removed. The following day the reported event, the local mayor stated that restoration to the much-loved public artwork would be expensive as the stickers could not be detached without damaging the art piece. “This wilful damage to a valued community art is unacceptable and disrespectful,” Mayor Lynette Martin said in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also frustrating to those members of our community who have embraced Cast in Blue.” She added the local government would seek the “significant” repair costs from those responsible for the vandalism. When the artwork was initially suggested, it received mixed reactions from the local community due to its price tag and appearance. Priced at A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork represents a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers influenced by an prehistoric marsupial ant-eater discovered in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”. The sculpture is its official name but residents called the piece the ‘Blue Blob’.