A new visual art installation called “The Portal” has been set up in New York and Dublin, allowing real-time interaction between people in the two cities. The creator, Benediktas Gylys, set up the installation with the aim of connecting people who would never meet otherwise and showing that they have more in common than what separates them. The technology behind the portal is similar to webcams and video calls, but it allows for interactions with people outside of one’s social circle. The Dublin portal was closed temporarily due to inappropriate behavior by a small minority of people, such as flashing and drug use, but is expected to be switched back on soon.
The portal has received an overwhelming response, with Gylys reporting that it had reached 500 million people in just five days. People in New York and Dublin have been using the portal to dance, play games like rock, paper, scissors, and simply wave hello to each other. School children in Dublin even sang the chorus of Alicia Keys and Jay Z’s “Empire State of Mind” to their American counterparts. Despite the lack of sound transmission, the portal has allowed for meaningful connections between people who may not have otherwise interacted.
In New York, people like Mark McConnell and Brianna Jacobson used the portal to interact with loved ones in Dublin. Mark waved at his 57-year-old father, Seamus, while Brianna held up a sign for her friend Sarah, whom she hadn’t seen in over a year. The experience was described as exciting, amazing, and surreal, with users finding something special about the portal that sets it apart from regular video calls. The installation has been a source of joy for many, with Brianna tearfully expressing that it had made her month.
Despite the temporary closure in Dublin due to inappropriate behavior, Gylys plans to set up more portals in places like Brazil and Ethiopia. He believes that people crave connectivity and the chance to meet others outside of their social bubbles and interest zones. The positive interactions and meaningful connections made through the portals demonstrate the potential for technology to bring people together across vast distances. The installation has sparked conversations, controversy, and excitement, proving that art and technology can bridge the gap between individuals from different parts of the world.
