Banksy’s ‘Dismaland’ draws curious crowds to UK resort

Entrance to the park billed as “the UK’s most disappointing new vistor attraction” costs only 3 pounds (about $4.70), and due to the early trouble with the site’s online ticketing, it is already living up to the hype.

The dark themed theme park is running for five weeks in Weston-Super-Mare.

The Tropicana can hold 2,000 people at any one time and once this limit has been reached, it will operate a one in, one out policy.

Banksy’s works, which have been stenciled on locations ranging from London and New York to the West Bank and Gaza, have become highly sought after in the art world he satirizes.

Fans have been pondering whether their frustration in failing to buy tickets is in fact part of the “Dismaland experience”. Dismaland Park’s Instagram followers wrote that it is “such a lovely way to express art” and have described such attractions as insane, cool, and awesome.

However, not all visitors will be permitted- as the Dismaland website clearly states that along with spray paint, marker pens, and knives, legal representatives of the Walt Disney Corporation are prohibited in the park.

Queuing is the only way to see Dismaland today. “There’s nothing wrong with asking provocative questions”, said Nigel Aston, member of Britain’s ruling conservative.

Local teaching assistant Charlotte Chambers thinks the town needs a lot of work. The council for North Somerset, the area where Weston-super-Mare is located, has struggled to find investors for the abandoned Tropicana. “It’s like getting Beyonce tickets all over again…!”

Among the exhibits: a sculpture of a woman attacked by a cloud of seagulls, a killer whale leaping out of a toilet bowl and a pond where visitors can steer model boats crammed with migrants.

According to the website, Dismaland: “Contains uneven floor surfaces, extensive use of strobe lighting, imagery unsuitable for small children and swearing”.

Dismaland is an exhibition, as well as an artwork in and of itself: the park includes three galleries housing pieces by more than 50 artists from 17 countries, including Damien Hirst, Jenny Holzer and Banksy himself, along with other, lesser-known artists.