Mysterious portal linking New York to Dublin appears on Manhattan street
A portal has opened in New York and Dublin, allowing people more than 3,000 miles apart to see and speak to each other in the blink of an eye.
Launching on May 8, the futuristic sculpture livestreams life on both sides of the Atlantic, forming a virtual bridge between the US and Irish cities.
The Dublin portal can be found on O’Connell Street in front of the General Post Office (GPO) and the Spire, while the New York portal is located in front of the Flatiron Building on Fifth Avenue.
Dubliners attending the launch of the Portal were treated to a special performance by The Liberties Majorettes, in a nod to the New York connection.
The Portal was created by Benediktas Gylys, a Lithuanian artist who wanted to boost connection among people living thousands of miles apart.
When the portals were activated, visitors were greeted with holograms that said ‘Hello from New York’ and ‘Welcome to Dublin.’
Mr Gylys said: ‘Portals are an invitation to meet people above borders and differences and to experience our world as it really is – united and one.
‘The livestream provides a window between distant locations, allowing people to meet outside of their social circles and cultures, transcend geographical boundaries, and embrace the beauty of global interconnectedness.’
The project is expected to operate until autumn, but an official end date has not yet been announced.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin said: ‘The Portals project embodies this bringing together technology, engineering and art to bring communities from across the world closer together and to allow people to meet and connect outside of their social circles and cultures.
‘We are delighted to connect Dublin with New York which we share a deep historical and cultural bond with.’
The Portal will also connect Dublin to other destinations such as Poland, Brazil and Lithuania in the coming months.
New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said: ‘It is a delight to celebrate the opening of this captivating installation and see two vibrant global cities connected in real-time.
‘We encourage New Yorkers and tourists alike to visit The Portal and experience this unique shared encounter across the Atlantic.’
The New York City Portal is supported by the Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & Culture division, and is the third portal to be opened by the artist.