UMVA has learned that a mischievous artist has taken the liberty of adorning Queen Victoria's statue with a rather unexpected and whimsical touch - a polystryrene walnut whip.
The statue, usually topped with traffic cones, has been transformed into a laughingstock, with locals and tourists alike scratching their heads in amusement over the bank holiday weekend. The artist, known as DLR, seems to have outdone themselves with this simple yet sidesplitting prank.
Local photographer, JJ Waller, couldn't help but appreciate the humor behind the stunt, saying it was a perfect fit for the town's quirky character. He noted that Queen Victoria herself might have even been amused by the original escapade, which went beyond the usual traffic cone hat she's worn many times before.
However, not all artistic expressions have been met with such enthusiasm. A recent incident involving a 19-year-old woman defacing an iconic Australian sculpture with googly eyes resulted in her being accused of 'reckless indifference' and facing potential costs for the damage caused.
The woman, Amelia Vanderhorst, was caught on CCTV placing large plastic stickers on the Cast in Blue sculpture in Mount Gambier, causing an estimated A$2,500 in damages. The mayor at the time deemed the act 'wilful damage' rather than 'harmless fun', highlighting the fine line between creative expression and vandalism.
The Mount Gambier sculpture, affectionately known as 'Blue Bob', was designed to represent a mythical version of ancient Australian megafauna. While some may view such acts as harmless, they can have serious consequences, as seen in this instance.
