Banksy’s Dismaland: Take A First Look Inside Nightmare Version Of Disneyland
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.”
More info: dismaland.co.uk | banksy.co.uk (h/t: colossal)
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”
Image credits: Yui Mok—PA Photos
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”
Image credits: Christopher Jobson
“In place of a gift shop we have a library, well, we have a gift shop as well”
Image credits: Yui Mok—PA Photos
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It is no where near London, it is some hours away in Weston Super Mare near Bristol.
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I seriously thought I was the only one who thought that!
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Sadly, I think I smell a slew of lawsuits coming on. I think this is pure brilliance though. I hope it will be very well documented for posterity as it's life span may well be limited. Pessimistic, albeit realistic.
yeah I bet Disney is rolling around on the floor squirming right now. But f**k them.
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Banksy is genius . I adore his work. Quite an interesting park. I wish I could be in time to see this reality.
Well it's creative,but I think it is not suitable for children.For me,Disney is a beautiful dream in my mind ,to yet I don't want to destroy it.
It did say that it's not suitable for children. In fact, I doubt they let people under a certain age in at all.
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I am simultaneously tremendously excited by this and angry and depressed that I won't get the chance to visit the short-lived attraction.
Seems like a lot of money to spend putting something together that's only going to run for a month
End of every ride is a gift shop. only when you leave the gift shop you are in another gift shop. This goes on and on till you're eventually just beaten and stripped of all your cash then thrown from the park.
Sometimes it's really cool, other times it's just plain weird. My favorite is the Gaza Kitten.
Sometimes really cool, other times really weird! My favorite is the Gaza Kitten.
my Dismaland is even more phun! http://james-nowlan.deviantart.com/art/ISIS-vs-USMC-at-Dismaland-555702465
There are a lot of under-developed neighbourhoods and whole towns which look like this already, may be even better.
Beyond controversial and stimulating...A true showcase of what true higher intellect appreciates in this refreshing art-symposium a la Banksy
Its all about believing and non-believing and to transport a social meaning. Nice and real heartful and In my oppinion correct statements, but I think, it will be not accepted as an educating park, but more similar to a entertaining park. Thats even the problem of our time: Any news will furtherhin switch to a entertainment.
Ahhhhh man! I wish I could go to see it in person. It looks really awesome!
I'd enjoy visiting it... except for the strobes. I can't do strobes. Migraines. >.<
Great creative artist , just the way the world needs today ,,hugs from norway
I love Banksy, collect images of his work on my computer, and am so happy to see the full extent of his quirky mind. I do hope the Disney lawyers stay away. They might come for the chicken, though.
I used to work there, just where that dismal tent is, in a dismal sweetshop. That's what I think.
He's using a theme park as a canvas for a commentary on society not mocking Disney particularly. Try to think a little deeper.
Load More Replies... It is no where near London, it is some hours away in Weston Super Mare near Bristol.
Load More Replies... I seriously thought I was the only one who thought that!
Load More Replies... Sadly, I think I smell a slew of lawsuits coming on. I think this is pure brilliance though. I hope it will be very well documented for posterity as it's life span may well be limited. Pessimistic, albeit realistic.
yeah I bet Disney is rolling around on the floor squirming right now. But f**k them.
Load More Replies... Banksy is genius . I adore his work. Quite an interesting park. I wish I could be in time to see this reality.
Well it's creative,but I think it is not suitable for children.For me,Disney is a beautiful dream in my mind ,to yet I don't want to destroy it.
It did say that it's not suitable for children. In fact, I doubt they let people under a certain age in at all.
Load More Replies... I am simultaneously tremendously excited by this and angry and depressed that I won't get the chance to visit the short-lived attraction.
Seems like a lot of money to spend putting something together that's only going to run for a month
End of every ride is a gift shop. only when you leave the gift shop you are in another gift shop. This goes on and on till you're eventually just beaten and stripped of all your cash then thrown from the park.
Sometimes it's really cool, other times it's just plain weird. My favorite is the Gaza Kitten.
Sometimes really cool, other times really weird! My favorite is the Gaza Kitten.
my Dismaland is even more phun! http://james-nowlan.deviantart.com/art/ISIS-vs-USMC-at-Dismaland-555702465
There are a lot of under-developed neighbourhoods and whole towns which look like this already, may be even better.
Beyond controversial and stimulating...A true showcase of what true higher intellect appreciates in this refreshing art-symposium a la Banksy
Its all about believing and non-believing and to transport a social meaning. Nice and real heartful and In my oppinion correct statements, but I think, it will be not accepted as an educating park, but more similar to a entertaining park. Thats even the problem of our time: Any news will furtherhin switch to a entertainment.
Ahhhhh man! I wish I could go to see it in person. It looks really awesome!
I'd enjoy visiting it... except for the strobes. I can't do strobes. Migraines. >.<
Great creative artist , just the way the world needs today ,,hugs from norway
I love Banksy, collect images of his work on my computer, and am so happy to see the full extent of his quirky mind. I do hope the Disney lawyers stay away. They might come for the chicken, though.
I used to work there, just where that dismal tent is, in a dismal sweetshop. That's what I think.
He's using a theme park as a canvas for a commentary on society not mocking Disney particularly. Try to think a little deeper.
Load More Replies...
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