Art & DesignDEC 12, 2024
Banksy’s Dismaland: Take A First Look Inside Nightmare Version Of Disneyland
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If “Dismaland” sounds like a nightmare version of Disneyland to you, then you’d be right. The “bemusement” park is the work of notorious street artist Banksy, and the 2.5-acre site opens today in the UK. The secret theme park project, which was unveiled Thursday and is located in the abandoned Tropicana swimming resort in Weston-super-Mare, features amusement park attractions with a dark, dystopian twist, along with work by Banksy and 50 other artists from around the world. “Dismaland” admission costs £3 and will run only for 5 weeks. The official brochure describes this unique art manifesto in the following manner:
“Are you looking for an alternative to the soulless sugar-coated banality of the average family day out? Or just somewhere cheaper. Then this is the place for you—a chaotic new world set in the dystopian future where you can escape from mindless escapism. Instead of a burger stall, we have a museum. In place of a gift shop we have a library, well, we have a street art gift shop as well…This event contains adult themes, distressing imagery, extended use of strobe lighting, smoke effects, and swearing. The following items are strictly prohibited: knives, spray cans, illegal drugs, and lawyers from the Walt Disney corporation.”
Dismaland is a nightmare version of Disneyland or a “family theme park unsuitable for children”
Image credits: Christopher Jobson
It was built secretly by street-artist Bansky over the Tropicana swimming pool in the English resort town of Weston-super-Mare
Image credits: Christopher Jobson
“I loved the Tropicana as a kid, so getting to throw these doors open again is a real honour” said Banksy
Image credits: Christopher Jobson
“I guess you'd say it's a theme park whose big theme is 'theme parks should have bigger themes”
Image credits: Yui Mok—PA Photos
Both small and large works can be found on the site
Image credits: Yui Mok—PA Photos
The park will feature amusements with a dark twist, along with artwork by Banksy and 50 other artists from around the world
Image credits: Christopher Jobson
“I banned any imagery of Mickey Mouse from the site,” he said
Image credits: Christopher Jobson
“It’s a showcase for the best artists I could imagine”
Image credits: Christopher Jobson
Entering the park will require visitors to endure an oppressive screening process
Image credits: Yui Mok—PA Photos
Exiting "Dismaland" will also be difficult
Image credits: Yui Mok—PA Photos
Instead of getting your portrait sketched, you'll have the option of having the back of your head drawn
Image credits: Christopher Jobson
Dismaland, "Contains uneven floor surfaces, extensive use of strobe lighting, imagery unsuitable for small children and swearing"
Image credits: Yui Mok—PA Photos
“The following are strictly prohibited in the Park: spray paint, marker pens, knives and legal representatives of the Walt Disney Corporation”. The official brochure states, “Are you looking for an alternative to the soulless sugar-coated banality of the average family day out? Or just somewhere cheaper”
Image credits: Christopher Jobson
“Then this is the place for you—a chaotic new world where you can escape from mindless escapism. Instead of a burger stall, we have a museum. In place of a gift shop we have a library, well, we have a gift shop as well”
Image credits: Yui Mok—PA Photos
