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| Banksy Dismaland show revealed at Weston's Tropicana | Banksy Dismaland show revealed at Weston's Tropicana |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Graffiti artist Banksy has announced an exhibition at a derelict seafront lido in Weston-super-Mare. | Graffiti artist Banksy has announced an exhibition at a derelict seafront lido in Weston-super-Mare. |
| The Dismaland show - which will also feature work from Damien Hirst, Jenny Holzer and Jimmy Cauty - will take over the Tropicana site for five weeks. | |
| "I loved the Tropicana as a kid, so getting to throw these doors open again is a real honour," Banksy said. | "I loved the Tropicana as a kid, so getting to throw these doors open again is a real honour," Banksy said. |
| The show is his first in the UK since 2009's Banksy v Bristol Museum show which drew huge crowds. | The show is his first in the UK since 2009's Banksy v Bristol Museum show which drew huge crowds. |
| Banksy described the show as a "family theme park unsuitable for children". | Banksy described the show as a "family theme park unsuitable for children". |
| He said he had been motivated to work on the site which had been "popular with low income holiday makers" after peering through a gap in the fence in January. | He said he had been motivated to work on the site which had been "popular with low income holiday makers" after peering through a gap in the fence in January. |
| Many of the works require "audience participation". | Many of the works require "audience participation". |
| "A dead princess is only complete when surrounded by gawping crowds with their cameras out, or the opportunity to photograph yourself pulling an amazed expression when a killer whale leaps from a toilet," he said. | |
| "I guess you'd say it's a theme park whose big theme is 'theme parks should have bigger themes'." | |
| Analysis - by David Sillito, arts correspondent | Analysis - by David Sillito, arts correspondent |
| Dismaland is the official name but it's really Banksyland. Subversive, darkly comic and cocking a snook at authority there are good reasons why the mysterious Mr Banksy is so popular. | Dismaland is the official name but it's really Banksyland. Subversive, darkly comic and cocking a snook at authority there are good reasons why the mysterious Mr Banksy is so popular. |
| His stencils are well known but this is something very different - a pitch black antidote to the 'fun day out'. | |
| The Julie Burchill 'Punch and Judy', the riot torn village, the 'magic castle' with a paparazzi and Disney centrepiece and, of course, an exit through the gift shop. Fun for all the family? No. Something Britain's seaside has never seen before? Yes. | |
| Weston is bracing itself for crowds. | Weston is bracing itself for crowds. |
| Speculation had been growing that the elusive Bristolian was planning an exhibition after a castle and sculpture made from tanker trucks were spotted above the walls. | Speculation had been growing that the elusive Bristolian was planning an exhibition after a castle and sculpture made from tanker trucks were spotted above the walls. |
| Locals had been told a Hollywood company was filming there. | Locals had been told a Hollywood company was filming there. |
| Nigel Ashton, leader of North Somerset Council, said: "We have been working closely with the organisers for months now and, for obvious reasons, have had to remain tight-lipped about the true nature of the event. | |
| "In fact, only four people in the entire council knew what was really happening." | "In fact, only four people in the entire council knew what was really happening." |
| At the Tropicana: Chris Kelly, BBC News | At the Tropicana: Chris Kelly, BBC News |
| The transformation inside the Tropicana is quite stunning. It's still the run-down lido it has been for the past 15 years, but now there's art everywhere. | The transformation inside the Tropicana is quite stunning. It's still the run-down lido it has been for the past 15 years, but now there's art everywhere. |
| From the moment you walk through the fake airport-style security you get the dismal tone of Dismaland. Grumpy guards play the part astonishingly well. | From the moment you walk through the fake airport-style security you get the dismal tone of Dismaland. Grumpy guards play the part astonishingly well. |
| Inside you see Banksy's Cinderella castle and his Grim Reaper dodgem, which dances to the song Staying Alive. | Inside you see Banksy's Cinderella castle and his Grim Reaper dodgem, which dances to the song Staying Alive. |
| But you also get a heavy dose of other local and international artists. Damien Hirst makes contributions alongside others. | But you also get a heavy dose of other local and international artists. Damien Hirst makes contributions alongside others. |
| And the organisers are keen to point to the show's art credentials rather than it being just street art alone. | And the organisers are keen to point to the show's art credentials rather than it being just street art alone. |
| The Tropicana outdoor pool and leisure facility closed in 2000 due to falling visitor numbers. | The Tropicana outdoor pool and leisure facility closed in 2000 due to falling visitor numbers. |
| Since then, there has been various attempts to either reopen or demolish the structure. | Since then, there has been various attempts to either reopen or demolish the structure. |
| The Trop Trust is trying to reopen the structure and bring it back into use. | The Trop Trust is trying to reopen the structure and bring it back into use. |
| Trust member Derek Mead said: "It has definitely put the Trop back in the forefront and I believe Mr Banksy was a swimmer in there in his younger days, so I think there could be an extra agenda here." |