In New York City, a captivating new interactive art installation is bridging the gap between viewers in the Big Apple and individuals 3,000 miles away in Dublin, Ireland.
Conceived by Lithuanian artist Benediktas Gylys, “the Portal” was unveiled on Wednesday, offering a unique opportunity for people on opposite sides of the Atlantic to engage with each other through a live video link.
Located at Flatiron South Public Plaza near Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and 23rd Street, adjacent to the iconic Flatiron Building, the installation provides New Yorkers with a visual livestream of Dublin’s bustling O’Connell Street, accessible round the clock.
Described as a testament to the transcendent power of art, the Portal aims to dissolve physical barriers and foster global connectivity, as highlighted in a joint press release from Gylys and officials from New York City and Dublin.
Scheduled to remain in place until fall, the installation will host a series of cultural performances, enhancing the experience for visitors on both sides of the connection.
Gylys expressed his vision for the project, stating, “Portals are an invitation to meet people above borders and differences and to experience our world as it really is — united and one.” He emphasized the significance of the livestream in facilitating encounters beyond social circles and geographical boundaries.
Echoing this sentiment, the lord mayor of Dublin, Daithí de Róiste, emphasized the city’s commitment to inclusivity, citing the Portal project as a prime example of leveraging technology, engineering, and art to bring communities closer together.
The installations mark the latest addition to Gylys’s portfolio, following previous portals established in Vilnius, Lithuania, and Lublin, Poland, in 2021. De Róiste revealed plans for the Dublin portal to connect with installations in Lithuania and Poland starting in July, further expanding the network of interconnected communities.
While the Portal may evoke memories of previous endeavors, such as British artist Paul St. George’s Telectroscope in 2008, Gylys’s creation offers a contemporary interpretation, seamlessly blending art, technology, and human connection to enrich the cultural landscape of both cities.
