The Portal sculpture closed due to inappropriate behavior in public

TLDR

Key Points:

• The Portal installation, connecting Dublin and New York City, was shut down due to poor behavior.
• The project aimed to bridge cultures through a live feed of inhabitants between the two cities.

This interactive video installation, founded by Lithuanian artist Benediktas Gylys, was part of NYCxDesign programming. The Portal connected Fifth Avenue in New York and O’Connell Street in Dublin, but had to be temporarily closed down due to inappropriate behavior displayed on the live feed. Despite the majority of visitors behaving appropriately, videos showing offensive actions like crass language and flashing led to the shutdown. Organizers are working on solutions to prevent such behavior from appearing on the livestream.

Gylys described the Portal as an invitation to meet people beyond borders and differences, emphasizing the beauty of global interconnectedness. While the installation is expected to return to both cities by the end of the week and run until Fall 2024, incidents of misbehavior led to its temporary closure. The project aimed to bring joy and a sense of connectedness to visitors, but inappropriate actions forced its halt.