Just 6 days ago The Portal was unveiled in NYC’s Flatiron neighborhood, forming a visual bridge connecting NYC to Dublin via a 24/7 live video stream. Though the excitement has been short-lived as it has already temporarily closed.
According to Time Magazine, officials have decided to temporarily close the portal following inappropriate behavior including people flashing the camera, grinding on the portal, getting dragged away by police from being too intoxicated, and even Dubliners holding up their phones with photos of swastikas and the 9/11 attacks on the screen.
On the flip side, the portal also provided many a heartwarming interaction, including serving as a meeting point for friend reunions and even making an across the pond proposal possible!
And though the Dublin City Council stated that those engaging in inappropriate behavior have been few and far between, since this is the age of technology, many, if not all of these interactions, both good and bad, have made their rounds on social media, some even going viral.
The Dublin City Council stated:
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. 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.
Founded by Lithuanian artist and entrepreneur Benediktas Gylys, The Portal was meant to serve as an invitation for people to meet fellow humans around the world, particularly those outside of their usual social circle and culture.
In NYC it’s installed on the Flatiron South Public Plaza at Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and 23rd Street, next to the Flatiron Building. In Dublin, it’s installed facing the capital’s main street, O’Connell Street.
According to the Flatiron NoMad Partnership, The Portal will be temporarily paused and unavailable for viewing during the below dates and times:
- Monday, 5/13, 5 pm to Tuesday, 5/14, 3 am
- Tuesday, 5/14, 5 pm to Wednesday, 5/15, 3 am
The sculpture is planned to be on display through fall 2024.