Dismaland Favorite 

Dismaland was an experimental and interactive art installation that mimicked and mocked similar attractions and characters of the Disney franchise. He later referred to it as a ‘bemusement park.’ Although the bemusement park seemed to disappear as suddenly as it arrived, the exhibition lives on in the collective memory of the British public.

Seven years on and following, the exhibition remains as relevant as it was when it first opened in 2015. From the core themes of the artworks included to the sheer magnitude of the exhibit, Banksy’s dystopian theme park still matters as much as ever.
Dismaland was a direct reflection of Banksy. Only revealed to the press two days before opening, Banksy’s dystopian theme park was as secretive as the elusive artist himself. It’s reported that only four members of the North Somerset council were aware of the project’s true nature, whilst Weston-super-Mare residents were led to believe that the vast construction site stretching across the beach was a set for a Hollywood crime thriller called Grey Fox.

Many critics disregarded Dismaland as a mere publicity stunt. Yet, in many ways, Banksy’s dystopian theme park was much more than just a flashy art exhibition. The 150,000 guests visiting the exhibition brought in over £20 million in extra revenue for Weston-super-Mare and the surrounding area, which was three times as much as initially projected.

Like much of Banksy’s work, there is inherently political and social commentary within Dismaland. The premise of creating an attraction was to promote tourism and attention to smaller towns, but also deliver a message and to pull back the curtain on the reality of the fairytale that is not fit for Cinderella.

Banksy is fond of creating artwork in unusual and unknown locations, often placing small towns on the map and drawing in tourism.