Australian Woman Convicted for Attaching Googly Eyes to 'Blue Blob' Sculpture
A 20-year-old woman in South Australia has been convicted of a graffiti offence after attaching googly eyes to a controversial public sculpture in Mount Gambier. Amelia Vanderhorst pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a charge of "marking graffiti" for placing the eyes on Cast in Blue, a sculpture valued at A$136,000 (£70,721) located in the city centre.
Controversial Artwork and Local Division
The artwork, unveiled in July 2025 as part of Mount Gambier's Beacon Art Project, depicts a mythical megafauna inspired by ancient marsupials discovered in the region's caves. Its bright blue colour references the nearby Blue Lake, and it was intended to create a distinctive cultural landmark. However, the sculpture has divided local opinion since its installation, with some criticising it as unattractive and a "waste of money," leading to its popular nickname, the "Blue Blob."
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Magistrate Kylie Schulz directed Vanderhorst to pay A$2,000 (£1,040) in compensation to the city council and complete 60 hours of community service. In court, the magistrate stated, "Your actions mocked the sculpture and the artist." The incident occurred in September 2025 when Vanderhorst filmed herself attaching the eyes. Police told the court she knew she had "no lawful authority to do so" and had either been "intending to damage property" or been "recklessly indifferent" to potential damage.
Defence and Personal Circumstances
Vanderhorst's defence lawyer, Michael Hill, informed the court that she had consumed nearly three litres of vodka and was under the influence of drugs on the night of the incident. Hill explained she acted in an attempt to make the sculpture "look funny" after seeing similar acts elsewhere and had since expressed remorse, describing her actions as "one of the stupidest things I've ever done." He added that she had "taken meaningful steps to address the issues that contributed to her offending, including reducing her substance use and focusing on stabilising her personal circumstances."
Crowdfunding and Financial Impact
Instead of applying for legal aid, Vanderhorst started a crowdfunding campaign last November to pay for legal representation. On the now-deleted campaign page, she admitted to being "the one who put the eyes on the blue blob" and wrote, "I don't have the funds for a lawyer as I am only young and jobless. I did not mean for the eyes on the blue blob to harm or offend anything or anyone at all so please help me." She raised A$1,894 (£984) but later returned the money. The city council spent A$3,000 (£1,560) repairing the sculpture, as the adhesive used couldn't be removed without damaging the surface.
Official Responses and Previous Vandalism
At the time of the incident, city mayor Lynette Martin called it "inappropriate and disrespectful," adding, "People don't have to like it, but they don't have to be creating wilful damage in this way. It is not harmless fun. It is costly." Cast in Blue had faced a separate vandalism attack two weeks after its unveiling. The council had previously stated it respected the "range of views about the sculpture" but asked that "people respect that this is a community asset."
