The New York–Dublin Portal (also simply known as The Portal) was an interactive installation created by Lithuanian artist Benediktas Gylys to allow people in New York City and Dublin to interact with each other using two 24-hour live streaming video screens (without audio). The second series of installations in Gylys' Portal series, the New York–Dublin Portal has been compared to Paul St George's past art installation named the Telectroscope, which connected New York to London in 2008.[1]
| New York–Dublin Portal | |
|---|---|
  The New York–Dublin Portal as seen in New York (top) and Dublin (bottom) | |
| Artist | Benediktas Gylys |
| Year | 2024 |
| Location |
|
| Preceded by | Vilnius–Lublin Portal |
| Website | Official website |
History
editThe Portal sculpture concept was created by Benediktas Gylys. The first of these to be unveiled was the Portal linking Vilnius, Lithuania to Lublin, Poland on May 26, 2021.[2] Following 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 introduced in their respective cities, with the New York screen being installed on the Flatiron South Public Plaza at 23rd Street, Fifth Avenue and Broadway next to the Flatiron Building, while the Dublin screen was positioned on O'Connell Street. In a press release on the same day, Gylys said they would only remain in place until autumn.[4] To celebrate the launch, people in both cities held up signs to greet each other, with people on the New York side performing a dance routine.[5]
On June 12, 2024, a collaboration of the Museum of Mathematics in Manhattan and Maths Week Ireland saw 10-year-old schoolchildren in both New York City and Dublin use the portal to challenge each other to solve several puzzles.[6]
In August 2024, it was announced that the New York–Dublin Portal would be deactivated.[7] The portal was shut down on September 2, 2024.[8]
Abuse of the portal
editOn Monday, May 13, 2024, the connecting screens were turned off temporarily after "inappropriate behavior" by participants.[9][10][11] Some on the Dublin side displayed pornography[12] and imagery of the September 11 attacks, projected profanities from their phone screens, and performed indecent exposure.[11] On the New York side, an OnlyFans model exposed her breasts to those in Dublin.[13] A Dublin City Council spokesperson said the authority had seen a "very small minority" behaving unsuitably, and technical solutions to address it were being implemented.[14] The Council ruled out the possibility of blurring the video feed.[9]
On Sunday, May 19, the New York and Dublin Portals were placed back online with updated digital technology to blur the screen if a person entered a visual field too close to the portal.[15][16] This prevented several attempts by individuals to project images through the portal's camera system.[16]
Reception
editShortly after the New York-Dublin Portal was reactivated in May 2024, the novelist Megan Nolan wrote for The Guardian: "There was something simian about the Portal, not only in that it felt zoo-like being regarded by the other side as they waited to be entertained, but also in the way that people behave when language is out of bounds."[17]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ Conlon, Padraig (June 13, 2024). "Dublin and NYC students use The Portal to make maths magic across the Atlantic". Dublin People. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ Rizk, Jonathan (August 12, 2024). "NYC-Dublin Portal to close permanently". PIX11. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ Pflaumer, Erin (September 2, 2024). "Portal connecting New York City and Dublin closes permanently". PIX11. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Hunter, Marnie (May 14, 2024). "Dublin-New York City portal: 'Inappropriate' behavior shuts down livestream sculpture installation". CNN. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Burga, Solcyré (May 14, 2024). "Dublin to New York City Portal Temporarily Shut Down Due to Inappropriate Behavior". TIME. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Carroll, Roy (May 14, 2024). "Dublin video portal to New York shuts temporarily due to unruly behaviour". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Feehan, Conor (May 15, 2024). "Dublin's Portal: Anti-social behaviour 'is having an impact' – minister". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 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.
- ^ "'Portal' installation linking Dublin and New York reopens after 'inappropriate behavior'". NBC News. May 19, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ a b "Dublin-New York portal reopens with set hours". BBC News. May 19, 2024. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
The Portals.org team has implemented a proximity-based solution. Now, if individuals step on the portal and obstruct the camera, it will trigger a blurring of the livestream for everyone on both sides of the Atlantic.
- ^ Nolan, Megan (May 23, 2024). "Mischief and mooning: the New York-Dublin Portal is a testament to international idiocy. I couldn't love it more". the Guardian. Retrieved May 25, 2024.