Dismaland (2)

Dismaland Bemusement Park, which has opened in an abandoned swimming pool on the seafront in Weston-super-Mare, is an exhibition and alternative fairground, created by the artist Banksy and with over sixty other artists involved in the event. It describes itself as ‘the Uk’s most disappointing new visitor attraction’ and it is a cynical but very clever take on other theme parks. On the leaflet we received it says ‘this event contains adult themes, distressing imagery, extended use of strobe lighting, smoke effects and swearing’.

As part of the whole theme of Dismaland, the employees, who I believe are actually actors, behave in the worst way you could imagine – customer service is not what they are about. They are all part of the ‘performance’; so there are no welcoming smiles, but aggressive stares, miserable expressions, and a general lack of helpfulness… but this is part of it, maybe part of the joke, maybe a reflection on what happens in other theme parks where employees are badly treated and poorly paid. When my husband bought a programme the person selling them refused to give it to him at first because he was smiling; as we left the person on the door said ‘Don’t come back!’

It probably sounds bizarre, it probably sounds rude and horrible… but it was all part of it, reflecting the way workers are often treated. I don’t think we will be able to get more tickets, but I would really like to return to see it again; there is so much to see, we didn’t have nearly enough time to see it all properly.

This worker was induced to have his photo taken by these two women; you can see how much he enjoyed it by his expression of world-weary boredom.

How often have we seen an expression like this when we’re trying to buy a ticket for something?

The people playing the part of these depressed attendants must have found it really difficult not to respond with a smile or a pleasant remark or expression; no doubt this is why they had to be actors.

Coming away from the exhibition, we had much to think about.