Dismaland – Reply to Banksy & Co

Sunbathing on the beach

Bookshop/cafe closure notice

Much as I love Southampton, which has some wonderful positive things to offer cruise ship tourists (which I shall get around to writing about more – I am usually a positive person) these are some snaps from my home city in support of Banksy’s Dismaland.

All photos © Southampton old lady

If you have not heard of Dismaland then please do an image search online. This is a ‘bemusement’ park that has been opened up in South-West England, for six weeks, by a group of 59 British artists including: Damien Hirst, Jenny Holzer, Jimmy Cauty, Bill Barminski, Caitlin Cherry, Polly Morgan, Josh Keyes, Mike Ross, David Shrigley, Bäst, and Espo… headed by Banksy. Actors (as disgruntled security guards and staff) and writers have also been employed (Julie Birchill re-wrote a macabre Punch & Judy script).

Homeless youth under The Bargate of Southampton’s Medieval wall.

The Tropicana swimming resort in Weston-super-Mare, a one-time holiday-haven, has been turned into an anarchistic statement about Western capitalism – A Disneyland gone wrong.

Banksy hails from near-by Bristol. He possibly recalls as a child, summer days on the sands and pier at Weston-Super-Mare, which have deteriorated now. The type of British family that used to spend their holiday here, no longer have money for resorts. Pictures like this can be found at tourist areas throughout Europe. In London, visitors are sad not to meet people like characters from Downton Abbey.

But don’t book £3 tickets on the Dismaland website, or you will just be trolled. The project highlights the down-side of Britain emulating USA-style boom and bust financial strategies. Our boom from the 1990s sub-prime-type/hedge-funding and such, burst its bubble in 2008. Although the Government has announced that the Country is now “doing well” – giving themselves generous pay-rises; people argue that these strategies have little way of ‘trickling down’ any benefit to the common people. There is also a sense of childhood loss, a feeling of being cheated by the false promises of a fairytale with a happy ending.

Health lottery advertisement shines bright in bad weather outside Waitrose (an up-market supermarket)

The Royal Pier in Southampton has not been repaired since it burnt down in the 1970s.

Closer view of the pier.

Prickly Justice

Northam Bridge Graffiti

River Itchen cycle path – west side

Please return your shopping trolley

Riverside apartments (or it could be)

Brown site that used to be television studios – build homes here please.

Itchen River from Roman East-side

Council allowed ‘graffiti’ to encourage cycling. Complete with chewing gum spots.

The sky line

Memorial bench at Royal Victoria Country Park looking out on Southampton Water

Sunbathing II at the waterfront

Park restrictions: Different signs for different languages

A traditional pub closes every day.

Shirley Park Hotel – closed

Tanning salon at what was once the Regent Cinema

Beauty Parlours offer hope of a change to feel better. Not something I could afford or want.

Jonas Nichols Square (he gave his name to Nicholstown) in the morning.

Where I used to buy vegetables when Kingsland Market was closed.

Late off-licence in residential area

Fly-tipped computer desk in green area

Keep out of here. (Ministry of Defence).

Loose paving slabs all over the City centre – watch your step.

Unfortunate name but yes. Isis ‘Gentleman’s’ club – in Southampton’s High Street (Above Bar).

For Your Eyes Only – another club for men (table-dancing) on the QE2 Mile

Grade II Listed street with house cordoned off for drugs bust.

Empty commerce

The cricket pavilion in a park where cricket is not allowed

A reminder of the Banksy mural’ that was removed in Southampton

You may also want to look at this YouTube video of buskers Phat Bollard performing ‘Millionaires’ in Southampton High Street (contains swearing): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhQBAu0Yypk

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/phatbollard. Downloads can be found at Bandcamp: http://phatbollard.bandcamp.com.

 

 

 

 

August 23, 2015August 24, 2015 by southamptonoldlady Categories: Decaying Old Grandeur, Hampshire, Historical, Homeless, Medieval, People, Photo Art, Southampton, Southampton Neighbourhoods, teens, TheatreTags: 1998, 2015, amusement, anarchy, Architecture, art, artists, austerity, Banksy, Bargate, Billionaires, Birchill, Britain, cricket, Damien Hirst, Dismaland, Disneyland, Division of Wealth, England, graffiti, Graves in England 1950s, Hampshire, Holiday, homeless, Jenny Holzer, Mile, ocean liners, park, photography, Port, QE2, Seaside, Southampton, Southampton Water, Tourist, town quay, trickle-down, Weston-super-Mare 15 Comments