A 20-year-old woman in Australia has been fined A$2,000 after placing googly eyes on a public sculpture valued at around $100,000, turning the act into a viral moment online.
The artwork, known as “Cast in Blue,” had only recently been installed when images of it with googly eyes began circulating widely in November. The woman, Amelia Vanderhorst, was identified through CCTV footage by local authorities and initially charged with property damage.
Now 20, she told the court she had been “unwell” at the time and pleaded guilty on March 24. The charge was later reduced to graffiti, and she was ordered to pay compensation and complete 60 hours of community service.
Police had estimated the damage at under A$2,500, and while Vanderhorst briefly attempted to crowdfund her legal defense, the effort was later withdrawn and donations were returned.