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A teenager from Australia has appeared in court after reportedly vandalizing a large blue sculpture of a mythical creature 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, charged with a single charge of property damage.

In a statement at the moment of the recent event, the municipal authorities explained that surveillance video showed a individual placing fake eyes on the sculpture, which residents have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.

The accused made no plea and told the judge she was unwell, as reported by news outlets, with the judge advising her to secure a lawyer before her next court date in December.

A day after the alleged incident, the local mayor said that repairs to the popular public artwork would be expensive as the adhesive eyes could not be detached without damaging the art piece.

“This intentional vandalism to a valued public artwork is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also frustrating to those people of our community who have embraced Cast in Blue.”

The mayor added the local government would seek the “significant” restoration expenses from those accountable for the vandalism.

At the time the artwork was initially suggested, it received mixed reactions from the area residents due to its cost and design.

Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; sixty-eight thousand pounds), the artwork represents a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an prehistoric marsupial ant-eater found in local caves that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.