Dismaland

It’s been a few weeks since I posted here on Picturing England. I’ve had a lot going on, and then my hard disk died. Excuses excuses. Anyway, I’m back with a big post this week – Dismaland!

In case you’ve been living in a cave and have no idea what I’m talking about, Dismaland, the ‘Bemusement Park’, is street artist Banksy’s latest brainchild. Using the site of the Tropicana, a derelict lido in Weston-super-Mare, Banksy has created and curated a “family theme park unsuitable for children” (there were children there, but I don’t think anyone under about 10 should have been allowed in!). This is Disneyland gone wrong, very, very wrong. With a fairytale castle as its centre piece (by Block9), dismal staff who are rude and don’t smile (wait, that could be just about anywhere in England!) and art in the form of paintings, sculptures, installations and movies, Dismaland is quite an experience.

Getting tickets was hard. They were released in weekly batches and snapped up almost instantly, but I managed to get one. It was a grey day when I arrived in Weston-super-Mare, which seemed appropriate for what I was about to see. Weston itself is a little bit dismal to be honest. I like it for its tackiness and cheap seaside attractions, but Dismaland fitted in worryingly well. After visiting Dismaland I walked along the seafront past the pier and felt like I could have still been in the exhibition.

The work of over 50 artists from around the world was exhibited at Dismaland, with pieces by Banksy headlining, of course. I couldn’t possibly mention all the artists I saw and liked, but a few of my favourite pieces were Jimmy Cauty‘s Model Village, which was absolutely stunning, Damien Hirst‘s unicorn, and Scott Hove‘s terrifying cake art.

Here, have some pictures…

Fairytale Castle by Block9

They did this clever thing where they superimposed people on to the image of the Cinderella coach crash and made it look like we were enjoying the horrific scene. Here I am!

Banksy

Banksy

Banksy

Banksy

Banksy

Dismal staff

Donald’s seen better days…

Darren Cullen’s Pocket Money Loans

If you are not outraged you are not paying attention

Dave…

Freaky mascots wandered the park…

Hook a duck from the muck

Damien Hirst’s unicorn (I kid you not, a woman with a child in front of me in this exhibition was pointing at each freakish thing and going “ooh look, it’s a unicorn” to the little child. This is not a happy unicorn. This is no My Little Pony!)

Scott Hove’s terrifying cake art

Jeff Gillette – love this art!

Jessica Harrison’s tattooed ladies

Banksy – poor Mickey Mouse!

Jimmy Cauty’s Model Village

Jimmy Cauty’s Model Village

Jimmy Cauty’s Model Village

Jimmy Cauty & Lush

Exit through the gift shop, of course

And if that wasn’t enough, you can view all of my pictures here on Flickr.

It’s too late to get tickets now, but you can still turn up on the day and queue to get in to Dismaland. I highly recommend it – this is one not to miss! Find out more here: dismaland.co.uk.