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Dismaland Castle (AP Series)


Jeffrey Gillette x Roamcouch Collaboration

Size: 86 x 60,5 cm (without frame)
Material: High-Pigment Fine Art Print on 308g Hahnemühle Cotton Rag Paper
Edition: 20 AP Series
Year: 2021

Hand signed by the artist on the front

The artwork comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by the artists and the gallery owner. The certificate confirms the authenticity of the work. Additionally, each order comes with a pair of cotton gloves. The work is unframed.

About the Artist: Jeffrey Gillette is a US American artist. Based in California, the home of Disneyland, Gillette’s art processes the glittery and supposedly always-holy Disney world and puts it in a new context of the real world. Gillette has already collaborated with Banksy and has officially provided the template for Banksy’s “Dismaland” with his art.

About the artist

I moved from the Cold, Post-Industrial Suburbs of Detroit Michigan over 30 years ago, and found myself settling in warm, Orange County, California, home to Disneyland. I’ve only been to the park three times (mostly short-short visits)… it is NOT ‘The Happiest Place on Earth’ to me…

I seek out the more Realistic places. I’ve travelled the world, and seen some of the harshest realities in developing countries from their struggling rural farmlands to their Mega Cities. I’ve wandered, taxied and toured third world slums since 1982 from India to Brazil and Jakarta to Lima. In 1988 I lived as a volunteer in Nepal for two years and extensively explored South Asia.

What I see and experience in my travels abroad or at home informs my artwork. I like juxtaposing the “Happiest Place on Earth” with what I call the ‘Heaviest Places on Earth.’

I’ve been going to Mumbai India to create Street Art since I was invited to Dismaland by Banksy. I started painting Mickey Mouse and Disney Castles on Slum Walls and houses. I’ve had the opportunity to work with fellow urban artist, Samir Parker. In 2018 I had a month-long Art Residency and made installations of Disneyesque Castles, including a 10-Meter high “Dhisneyland” façade on a shack facing the Mahim Train Station in Dharavi, and later we had a fun “art day” for the local kids.

Imagined images of Post-Apocalyptic scenes to Realistic environments of Endless landfills are other subjects of my art. I’m heavily influenced by the Pessimistic German Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, and his words resonate with me and help form my vision. Too keep myself from getting too depressed, I try to find solace in the joy that Mickey Mouse exudes with his very potent and optimistically pleasant omnipresence.

I imagine worst-case scenarios: both from my own life experience and from our past, present and future world-wide trauma. The Future to me looks bleak. I prepare myself Existentially and Aesthetically by researching what I deem ‘Worst Case Scenarios’

Jeff Gillette (September 2021)

All artworks by Jeff Gillette

Street Art, Urban Art and Graffiti – Buy unique artworks, signed Prints and limited Editions from international street artists. The URBANSHIT GALLERY is a gallery for Art at the interface between Urban and Contemporary Art. The focus is laid on international artists with a foundation in graffiti and Street Art.