London - It is more the stuff of nightmares than fairytales. But then no one would expect graffiti artist Banksy’s take on Disneyland to be all sweetness and light.
His latest project, an art theme park called Dismaland, uses dark humour, surrealism – and very questionable taste.
In one sculpture, Cinderella’s lifeless body hangs from the wreckage of her crashed carriage as paparazzi snap away in a scene clearly inspired by the death of Princess Diana.
Other doom-laden images include the Grim Reaper on the dodgems and an atomic mushroom cloud. Banksy, who goes to great lengths to shield his identity, describes Dismaland as a “bemusement park” and bills it as “the UK’s most disappointing new visitor attraction”. He has created it in the abandoned Tropicana lido on Weston-super-Mare seafront in Somerset.
The 2.5-acre site features ten Banksy murals and sculptures, including a woman being attacked by seagulls, a distorted mermaid with a derelict fairytale castle and a killer whale jumping out of a lavatory.
Works by other artists include Big Rig Jig – two juggernauts in a balletic pose. There is also attraction called the Jeffrey Archer Memorial Fire Pit that invites visitors to burn the novels written by the former Tory politician, who grew up in the town and is now Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare.
Banksy says that, rather than simply taking a swipe at Disney, Dismaland is a serious attempt to showcase cutting-edge art. The artist, who grew up in Bristol, said: “I loved the Tropicana as a kid. I hope everyone from Weston will take the opportunity to once more stand in a puddle of murky water eating cold chips to the sound of crying children.”
Dismaland, described in publicity as a “festival of art, amusements and entry-level anarchism”, is open to the public f until September 27 and admission costs £3 (about R50).
Daily Mail