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London — The elusive British graffiti artist Banksy has unveiled his latest project — a parody of a seaside theme park called Dismaland complete with a derelict castle, a dead Cinderella and a Grim Reaper in a bumper car.
The artist, best known for his subversive, stenciled street art, said it was a "festival of art, amusements and entry-level anarchism."
While Banksy said it was "not a swipe at Disney," it's difficult to ignore the reminders of Disneyland — from the grey castle and the skewed sculpture of Ariel the mermaid in front of it, to the exhibit of Cinderella in her carriage. Only this princess hangs out of her crashed carriage, apparently dead, as paparazzi look on.
The project, staged in a run-down site in southwestern England's Weston-super-Mare, is Banksy's biggest show to date. It includes new works from Banksy, as well as art galleries featuring some 50 international and British artists. Musical performances and arcade games complete the experience.
Judging from the early response, it's set to be a hit: Long lines formed outside the park Friday as people waited to get in for a viewing day reserved for local residents. Online, the official website was down for most of Friday as it apparently crashed under the flow of traffic.
Watch the trailer for Banky’s Dismaland here:
