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Public Art Installation 'The Portal' in NYC and Dublin Shut Down Due to Inappropriate Behavior
Updated: May 23
The interactive art installation 'The Portal' linking New York and Dublin has been temporarily shut down due to inappropriate behavior. Videos of lewd antics, including an OnlyFans model baring her breasts and individuals displaying offensive images, prompted the closure. The screens were temporarily back up but will be powered down again as officials and organisers seek technical solutions.
The interactive display, which featured circular screens in both cities, was meant to celebrate global interconnectedness but became a magnet for boorish behavior.
The North American debut of "The Portal" took place on May 8, with a screen set up below New York City's iconic Flatiron Building and a companion screen on Dublin's O'Connell Street. The installation aimed to create a sense of unity and invite people to connect across borders.
However, just days into its run, the portals were closed after videos surfaced on social media showing people engaging in lewd and offensive behavior. From an OnlyFans model in New York baring her breasts to individuals in Dublin displaying swastikas and images of the Twin Towers burning on 9/11, the behavior prompted officials to take action.
The screens, which only displayed video without audio, were temporarily back up on Tuesday morning but were scheduled to be powered down again in the evening. The Dublin City Council and exhibit organisers are exploring technical solutions to address the inappropriate behavior and plan to bring the displays back later in the week.
While the overwhelming majority of people interacting with the portals have behaved appropriately, there have been security measures in place at the New York location since the exhibit launched. The organisers emphasise the importance of respect and aim to create a window for people from different places and cultures to freely interact with one another.
Despite the incidents, many visitors on both sides of the portals have been well-behaved, exchanging friendly waves and taking selfies. However, there have been instances of disruptive behavior, such as a man in Dublin extending two middle fingers and a woman in New York attempting to engage the Dublin crowd in a TikTok dance.
Opinions on the situation vary, with some questioning the decision to place the Dublin screen in a busy area known for late-night drinking crowds. However, others see the installation as a sweet and unscripted way to connect with people from different parts of the world.
The interactive art installation 'The Portal' linking New York and Dublin has been temporarily shut down due to inappropriate behavior.
Videos of lewd antics, including an OnlyFans model baring her breasts and individuals displaying offensive images, prompted the closure.
The screens were temporarily back up but will be powered down again as officials and organisers seek technical solutions.
Source: AP NEWS