Banksy’s exhibition arrives for the first time in Portugal

Until March 31, Portugal receives for the first time the works of the mysterious British artist Banksy under the lens of photographer Barry Cawston. Entitled “Banksy, Dismaland and Others,” the exhibition – which takes place at Oporto Customs House – promises to take audiences on a trip for over 25 years of the artist’s work.

Painted on walls around the world, Banksy uses his art to contest the values of society, addressing issues such as war, child poverty and the environment.

The exhibition gathers 44 large-scale photographs of the Dismaland project, a theme park designed by Bansky in 2015. According to him, Dismaland – a pun on the words dismal and Disneyland – was “an art and entertainment show for beginner anarchists” which also featured small shows and a melancholy and depressing decor. Banksy made ten works especially for the park, which also had the participation of 58 artists from all over the world, including the Portuguese Wasted Rita.

In addition to the Dismaland project, other works can be found such as the ‘Walled Off Hotel’ and ‘Flower Thrower’ and documentaries ‘Banksy does New York’ and ‘Saving Banksy’ about Banksy’s life, whose true identity remains unknown.

Taking advantage of the exhibition, works of young Portuguese artists will also be exhibited as a way of launching new names in the urban art universe.

Banksy, Dismaland, and Others, from January 19th to March 31st at Alfândega do Porto.