New York–Dublin Portal
| New York–Dublin Portal | |
|---|---|
| Artist | Benediktas Gylys |
| Year | 2024 |
| Location | |
| New York 40°44′30″N 73°59′21″W / 40.7416059°N 73.9893016°W Dublin 53°21′00″N 6°15′35″W / 53.3499019°N 6.2597106°W | |
| Preceded by | Vilnius–Lublin Portal |
| Website | Official website |
The New York–Dublin Portal (also simply known as The Portal) is an interactive installation created by Lithuanian artist Benediktas Gylys in order for New York City and Dublin city centre visitors to interact with each other using two 24-hour live streaming videoconferencing screens. It has been compared to Paul St George's past art installation named the Telectroscope, which connected New York to London in 2008.[1]
History
The Portal sculpture concept was created by Benediktas Gylys. The first to be unveiled was the Portal linking Vilnius, Lithuania to Lublin, Poland on May 26, 2021.[2] Following on from its success, it was confirmed in March 2024 that by spring, Dublin and New York would be the next cities to receive them.[3]
On Wednesday, May 8, 2024, the portals were officially unveiled in their respective cities, with New York's installed on the Flatiron South Public Plaza at 23rd Street, Fifth Avenue and Broadway next to the Flatiron Building, while Dublin's was installed on O'Connell Street. In a press release issued the same day, Gylys said they will only remain in place through to fall.[4] To celebrate the unveiling, visitors in both cities held up signs to greet each other, with dancers from the New York side performing a dance routine.[5]
Controversies
By Monday, May 13, the video screens connecting the two cities were temporarily turned off, following incidents of "inappropriate behaviour" from participants. Those on the Irish side were allegedly seen displaying imagery of the September 11 attacks, projecting swear words from their phone screens and flashing. In addition, an OnlyFans model on the New York side flashed her breasts to those in Dublin.[6] A Dublin City Council spokesperson said the authority had witnessed a "very small minority" engage in the inappropriate behaviour, and technical solutions to address it are being implemented.[7]
See also
References
- ^ Carroll, Roy (May 13, 2024). "Smiles, waves and flashed body parts: video portal links Dublin and New York". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ Krzyżanowski, Paweł (May 31, 2021). "W Lublinie pojawił się... portal. Pozwala na komunikację z Wilnem" [...A portal appeared in Lublin. Allows communication with Vilnius]. Computer World (in Polish). Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ Chávez Gutiérrez, José Maria (March 27, 2024). "The Portal is an art installation connecting New Yorkers and Dubliners through sculpture". The Architect's Newspaper. Archived from the original on May 11, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ Guy, Jack (May 9, 2024). "Interactive art installation lets New Yorkers communicate with people 3,000 miles away". CNN Style. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ Snider, Mike (May 9, 2024). "Mystical Portals now connect New York and Dublin, part of a bridge 'to a united planet'". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ Davis, Barney (May 14, 2024). "'OnlyFans, drugs and 9/11 taunts': Dublin to New York portal taken offline over 'inappropriate behaviour'". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ Sharkey, Kevin; McBride, Mike (May 14, 2024). "A 'small minority' ruining Dublin Portal experience". BBC News. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.