Bemusement central

Banksy opens a theme park, trolls the crap out of Disneyland
By Alex James Taylor | Art | 20 August 2015

After weeks of speculation it’s now official: Banksy opens his very own theme park this week. Dismaland, in Western-super-Mare, is the artist’s satirically dystopian ‘Bemusement park’, taking the Mickey (pun intended) out of Disneyland.

As is always the case with the controversial Bristol born artist the project has been shrouded in secrecy, hidden under the guise of a film set until this week. And this isn’t the first time he‘s taken on Disney, remember him sneaking a Guantanamo Bay detainee doll onto Big Thunder Mountain Railroad back in 2006?

Set up in a derelict seafront lido, The Tropicana, the epic exhibition is Banksy’s first in the UK since 2009’s sellout Banksy v Bristol Museum show.

To call the project ambitious would be an understatement, spanning 2.5 acres the site boasts a sinister, ravaged fairytale castle, a boat pond full of asylum seekers, a Jimmy Saville themed Punch and Judy show, a mini-gulf course (an oil caliphate themed crazy golf course), and a Jeffrey Archer Memorial Fire Pit encouraging you to burn the disgraced local politician’s books.

Around the site there will be artwork by Banksy, Damien Hirst, Jenny Holzer and Jimmy Cauty, amongst others, and three galleries of work by contemporary artists. According to the park’s website there will also be a series of gigs taking place with Pussy Riot, Savages, Sleaford Mods and fellow Bristolians Massive Attack all on the bill.

And if you have any questions, just ask the dour looking workers, on hand to heighten your miserable experience.

Tickets for £3 go on sale from Friday August 21 here and the park opens from August 22nd through to September 27th. Check Banksy’s website for updates.

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