Disneyland too busy this weekend? Try Dismaland.
Dismaland Bemusement Park, as it is officially called, is a slytake on an immersive art exhibition from the controversialstreet artist Banksy. Located in a working-class seaside resort town in England, it is scheduled to open its doors to the public from tomorrow [Aug. 22]. Star Warsamusement park, this is not.
Instead of simply displaying the 58 works by his fellow contemporary artists such as Damien Hirst, Jenny Hotlzer, and David Shrigleythemselves providing ample provocationDismaland strives for simulacra in the name of satire. Using familiar tropes associated with theme parks,Banksys dystopian wonderland has rides, a merry-go-round, a killer whalejumping through a hoop ála Sea World, and even concerts. Performances by Massive Attack and Pussy Riot are on the schedule.
A reversal of Disneylands infamouslycheerful and solicitous staff [a.k.a. cast members], Dismalands attendants, it seems, have been instructed to exude boredom, disinterest, if not outright despair.
Zombie-likedead eyesarede rigueur.
Working thefair grounds like a sidewalk portrait artist, BritishartistNettie Wakefieldcreates rather astutely-renderedpencil drawings of the back of hersitters heads.
Park rules are simple: Nospray paint, marker pens, knives and/or legal representatives of the Walt Disney Corporation are allowed, as stated on Dismalands website. There is also asecurity checkpoint propped with fake body scanners and apatheticguards armed withthoseubiquitous metal detector security wands, all crudely constructed incardboard.
Theme parks should have bigger themes, Banksy said. Despite his efforts to deflect the spotlightback to the group art showcase, Dismalandcan easily be construed as the artists ultimate critique onthe perceived mind-numbing and overly-commercialized theme park experience doled out byDisney.Parody, lampoon, caricature, and satire abound in Dismaland.Banksys ambitious five-week fiasco, if anything, vivifiesthe various modes of criticism and social commentary achieved through art.
Theexhibition, Banksys largest to date, is a culmination of the elusive artists obsession with the Walt Disney Corporation. From Snow White recast as a masked anarchist holding a grenade like the poisonapple to a woeful Dumbo the elephantmaimed by a rocket launcher[video],Disney characters have been favorite targets and messengersfor Banksys politically-charged parodies over the years.
True to Banksys modus operandi, Dismaland was constructed amidst a cloak of secrecy with helpfrom local town officials. We have been working closely with the organizers for months now, saidNigel Ashton of the North Somerset Council to the BBC. For obvious reasons, [we] have had to remain tight-lipped about the true nature of the event.
As a reward, local residents will get the first opportunity to experience the park with an exclusive preview scheduled for today [Aug. 21].Dismaland Bemusement Park isopen until Sept. 27.