What is The Portal in NYC and how does it work?
OVER the years, technology has made it convenient for us to communicate with our loved ones.
Now, New York City's newest art installation, The Portal, allows us to connect with strangers across the pond — here's everything we know about how it works and where it's located.
What is The Portal in NYC?
The Portal in NYC is an art installation by Benediktas Gylys that allows New Yorkers to connect with people in Dublin, Ireland, using these portals.
According to the official press release, The Portals "are an invitation to meet fellow humans above borders and differences and to experience our world as it really is—united and one."
James Mettham, the President of the Flatiron NoMad Partnership, said: "This real-time connection between two iconic public spaces in global cities on either side of the Atlantic will bring people together, both physically and digitally, becoming a captivating attraction for New Yorkers and visitors alike."
This isn't the first time Gylys has introduced The Portal.
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In 2021, after the Covid-19 pandemic, Gylys installed two portals connecting people in Lithuania, the artist's home country, and Poland.
How does The Portal work?
The Portal is one big screen that has live streams and allows visitors from New York City and Dublin to communicate with one another in real time.
It weighs about 3.5 tons with an eight by eight feet video screen.
While onlookers can see each other, The Portal doesn't have audio; however, even without sound, you can still communicate.
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"We think just simple communication," Mettham said, "whether it's a wave, a hi, a sign, a dance, that's what people are about."
Speaking on why they chose Dublin, Mettham revealed: "Two cosmopolitan cities that are linked based on immigration, culture, literature, so many things."
How can I visit The Portal?
The Portal is located at the Flatiron South Public Plaza near the Flatiron Building in NYC.
The portal opened on May 8, 2024, and was operating 24/7.
However, a few days after it opened, officials closed it down temporarily due to inappropriate behavior on both sides, according to Time.
It was also reported that, among other things, people in both Ireland and New York began flashing each other, and some even documented the experiences online.
"While we cannot control all of these actions, we are implementing some technical solutions to address this and these will go live in the next 24 hours," the Dublin City Council said in a statement.
“We will continue to monitor the situation over the coming days with our partners in New York to ensure that portals continue to deliver a positive experience for both cities and the world.”
On May 19 of the abovementioned year, The Portal reopened.
Upon reopening, a representative for the fixture's operations stated: "As humans we are creating the Portals experience together.
"I invite local communities not only to enjoy but to care about their Portals and how other community members are approaching the sculptures."
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While The Portal is open, there will be scheduled performances on both sides of the pond.
The Portal in Dublin is located at the city's main street, O'Connell Street, which overlooks the GPO building and the Spire.