Dismaland-Disneyland inspired ‘bemusement park’

There have been strange goings on in Weston-super-Mare, London this week. A giant stallion made of scaffolding poles reared its head, a grim, gray fantasy castle popped up and a twisted truck sculpture rolled in to town, reports Mashable.

Banksy has been secretly assembling his own Disneyland-inspired creation in this West Country seaside town, and it's not exactly the happiest place on Earth.

Dismaland, which opens to the public Saturday and sits on the 2.5 acre site of the Tropicana lido, is the shadowy artist's first "bemusement park," and it's packed full of subversive artworks.

This is Banksy's first major show in the UK since his Banksy vs Bristol Museum exhibition in 2009, which saw dozens of works of art put on display and hundreds of thousands of visitors in attendance.

The artist described the work as "a festival of art, amusements, and entry level anarchism," in a press statement handed out to journalists.

"This is an art show for the 99% who'd rather be at Alton Towers."

He says he was motivated to construct the show on the site, which has been abandoned since the turn of the century, after peering through a gap in the fence in January. Rejecting that this is a street art show, the artist says it's "post-modem" or art with high click potential.

The website which went live Thursday morning before briefly crashing, says the park includes a Cinderella's castle, a model village and a cinema, which sit among a fire pit that burns novels by "famed local perjurer" Jeffrey Archer, a Jimmy Saville-inspired Punch & Judy performance, and a puppet revue show constructed from the contents of Hackney skips.

The place is full of traditional funfair attractions, which have been given a satirical twist. A portrait artist will render the exact likeness - of the back of your head. The "crazy gulf" attraction is an "oil caliphate-themed crazy golf course."

Photo: AP

Water Cannon Creek promises "an armour plated riot control vehicle built to serve on the streets of Northern Ireland. Equipped with sniper posts, grenade launchers and now – a children's slide."

There's also a host of other artists' work on display, including Damien Hirst, Jenny Holzer and Jimmy Cauty, and three large galleries will showcase "the finest collection of contemporary art ever assembled in a North Somerset seaside town."

A different programme of events has been slated for each Friday night that the park is open with acts like DJ Yoda, Run The Jewels and Sleaford Mods lined up to appear.

According to the website, Dismaland: "Contains uneven floor surfaces, extensive use of strobe lighting, imagery unsuitable for small children and swearing. The following are strictly prohibited in the Park: spray paint, marker pens, knives and legal representatives of the Walt Disney Corporation."

Covert construction

The assembly of Dismaland was shrouded in secrecy, with an elaborate cover story concocted ahead of the opening. 'Atlas Productions' were purported to be filming a crime thriller called Grey Fox there, according to signs posted on the site. Grey Fox even had an IMDB page, which described the movie's plot.

Photo: dismaland.co.uk

It sounds like something your younger brother would come up with during a game of Absolute Balderdash, but it kept most people off the scent ahead of Thursday's big reveal.

Somerset Council were also in on the act, telling Mashable on Tuesday they'd heard a film was being shot at the site, and passing on the production company's very official sounding Gmail address for more information.

However, Banksy's involvement has been rumoured since his reported manager Holly Cushing was spotted at the site earlier this summer, and locals spotted many of the attractions earlier in the week

Dismaland opens Saturday, Aug. 22 and runs until Sept. 27, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Admission is £3 (free for under fives) and you can book a time slot for guaranteed entry.