Banksy revealed a 10,000 square foot Dismaland today. It is a giant art work that mimics a theme park but gives us intense deconstructive takes on the escapist sensibility that supports places like Disneyland.
I’ve posited two critiques of Banksy. The first is that his manipulation of the media is the same fundamental hypocrisy that all his fingerpointing art insists it rises above.
The second objection is that the inherent P.R. stunt nature of his art exhibitions take coverage away from all other artists much in the same way the targets of his fingerpointing art tend to be those who are the “takers” on the giver/taker spectrum.
And so I was pleasantly surprised to see that his Dismaland creation actually includes and elevates many other artists. It is more Banksy as curator, but that he has included other artists has really impressed me. The installation opened today in England so I will follow the coverage. I don’t think he will use these artists as props for mockery as he expertly did to Mister Brainwash in “Exit Thru The Gift Shop”, so let’s wait and see what Banksy as Curator will deliver.
My early sentiment is to applaud the use of his “BANSKY BRAND” (©®™) to shine the light on deserving artists who privilege the content of critique in their work. I won’t be getting a passport and flying over to Kidney Pie Rock to see the thing myself but it will be unavoidably in the media and should help more than a few artists on their journeys.