Theme parks seem to be popping up all over the world, with increasingly specific themes. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a Universal Studios subsidiary, is an amusement park focused on J.K. Rowling’s incredibly popular fictional creations.
On August 20th, Banksy has revealed his own theme park, dubbed “Dismaland”, a name which reflects its dreary, tongue-in-cheek jabs at authority in every piece of the exhibit. Utilizing Weston’s abandoned lido Tropicana, Banksy, with the help of artists Damien Hirst, Jenny Holzer, and Jimmy Cauty, filled the derelict space with fitting pieces reminding people to question authority and pursue objective truths rather than swallowing the media’s pill. For five weeks Dismaland will be open to the public. According to the mysterious, faceless graffiti artist himself, Dismaland is a, “family theme park unsuitable for children.” The specification of child unfriendliness is emphasized by the distorted Ariel drowning in the middle of a pond and dying princesses scattered throughout the park. For children, the place is nightmarish to say the least, but for adults it is sure to be eye-opening and thought-provoking, as all of Banksy’s previous work and public exhibitions.
Weston is preparing for large crowds, as Dismaland is Banksy’s first show in the UK since his 2009 Banksy v Bristol Museum show, which drew huge crowds. Moreover, the park is meant to be heavily founded upon visitor participation, as many of pieces are based around spectators being present. The image of a classic Disney princess dying isn’t complete without a crowd of witnesses snapping photos on their smartphones and only an audience completes the spectacle of a killer whale jumping out of a toilet. Of course, Banksy brings his iconic radical views to every piece, as well as his sense of mystery and behind-the-scenes work. The North Somerset Council has been working with organizers for months, but only four members of the whole council were aware of what was actually taking place. The Weston locals were told that a Hollywood film crew was shooting a movie, a ruse which fell through after a castle was spotted being erected over the high walls. The exhibit is a provocative park which, in the artist’s own words, “offers an escape from mindless escapism.”
