An eye-catching art installation of a portal linking New York City and Dublin has recently been shut down following incidents of inappropriate behavior, including the display of 9/11 images and offensive language.
New York Portal to Dublin Closed Due to Inappropriate Behavior
Last week, the "portal," a creation by Lithuanian artist Benediktas Gylys, debuted to much anticipation. The concept involved live streaming footage between the two cities via large circular screens to promote global unity and interconnectedness.
"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 artist said in a statement.
The New York portal stands on the Flatiron South Public Plaza at Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and 23rd Street, while the Dublin portal, more than 3,000 miles away, is located near Dublin's famous GPO building and the Spire.
Dublin's portal to New York closed temporarily due to misconduct, including people flashing images of 9/11 and porn. Technical solutions aim to prevent future incidents.Image via https://flatironnomad.nyc/
Dublin's Lord Mayor, Daithí De Róiste, welcomed the initiative, urging citizens and visitors to engage with the installation to extend Irish hospitality to the world.
Meanwhile, New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez encouraged New Yorkers and tourists to explore the portal and partake in this extraordinary shared experience across the Atlantic.
However, the portal's launch was spoiled by reports of misconduct on the Dublin side. Individuals were observed displaying images related to the 9/11 attacks, as well as engaging in other inappropriate behavior, such as using offensive language and showing their private parts at the camera directed towards New York.
Several posts on social media captured these events as they happened.
they opened a portal between dublin and new york and I just know it will be shut down before its one month anniversary lol pic.twitter.com/4MsGV7mSr8
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 04: People enjoy the view from the top of Rockefeller Center as office buildings stand largely empty on March 04, 2021 in New York City. According to Colliers International, in January the office available rate in Manhattan rose to 14.9%, which is the highest level on record dating back to 2000. Some companies are slowly asking employees to return to the office while other's are waiting for more New Yorkers to receive the vaccine for Covid-19.Spencer Platt/Getty Images
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 04: People enjoy the view from the top of Rockefeller Center as office buildings stand largely empty on March 04, 2021 in New York City.
Dublin City Council swiftly suspended the portal's operations to address the issue. They announced plans to implement technical solutions, such as blocking images from being displayed at the other end of the portal's cameras, to prevent similar incidents in the future, RTE reports.
The council said in a statement reviewed by the BBC that the majority of interactions have been positive. However, they acknowledged that a small minority had engaged in inappropriate behavior, which social media had amplified.
The council also stated that they will continue monitoring the situation with their New York partners to ensure a positive experience for both cities and the global community.
The Portals Organization, responsible for the installation, reiterated their goal of facilitating respectful exchanges between distant communities, emphasizing that they do not dictate how people should interact with the portals.
