A new virtual “portal” connecting Dublin to New York City has opened, sharing live-stream footage from both cities.
The Portal is an on-street art sculpture located off O’Connell Street, on North Earl Street, in Dublin and in the Flatiron District of New York City and allows for real-time interaction between Dubliners and New Yorkers on either side of the Atlantic.
The Dublin Portal captures the Spire and the GPO, while the New York Portal includes footage of the Flatiron South Public Plaza on Broadway.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithí De Róiste unveiled the Dublin Portal on Wednesday, stating that he hopes the art installation will help make the city more inclusive.
“I would encourage Dubliners and visitors to the city to come and interact with the sculpture and extend an Irish welcome and kindness to cities all over the world,” De Róiste told RTÉ News.
“This project is an example of one of the many exciting things to expect in Dublin during 2024 as part of our EU Capital of Smart Tourism Designation.”
James Mettham, President of the Flatiron NoMad Partnership, said the new art installation will help bring people together.
“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,” Mettham said.
New York City Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu said the art installation connects “two amazing global cities”.
“We are so excited to have the portal as a public interactive art installation, showcasing the vibrancy of our city streets and providing a new point for human connection between New Yorkers and Dubliners,” Liu said.
The art installation will remain a fixture of Dublin and New York’s streetscapes throughout the summer and is due to run until the fall.
A number of cultural performances will take place at each Portal over the summer, including a visual program in mid-May to celebrate New York’s Design Week.
Meanwhile, dance troupe the Libertines Majorettes performed at Wednesday’s unveiling in Dublin in a nod to the group’s New York connection.
From July onward, the Portal will connect Dublin with other global destinations, including Brazil, Poland, and Lithuania.
Benediktas Gylys, the Lithuanian artist behind the Portal, said the art installation is an invitation for people to meet “above borders and differences”.
“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.”
