A virtual scene has been the buzz on the New York City streets this past week. An open-air video link, which was established between New York City and Dublin on May 8, is open again after it was temporarily closed due to inappropriate behavior from both ends of the portal.
A model bared her breasts on camera in New York, while individuals held up swastika symbols on the Dublin end. The footage later appeared on social media, further stirring the scene. The unsavory incidents triggered a brief shutdown of the portal.
Since Sunday, the video link has reopened for the public from the hours of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in New York and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Dublin.
Organizers have added fencing on the New York side and have installed other preventative measures to prohibit individuals from interacting too closely with the portal. People passing by will not be able to step on the sculpture, and they will not be able to hold their phones up to the camera.
"Now, if individuals step on the Portal and obstruct the camera, it will trigger a blurring of the livestream for everyone on both sides of the Atlantic," said the organizers in a statement about the new preventative measures.
The video link is a public art installation called the "Portal,” co-organized by the Dublin City Council and the Manhattan business group Flatiron NoMad. The exhibit is designed to connect the cities and explore the beauty of interconnectedness. The exhibition rises 3.4 meters tall and weighs several tons, as reported by the organizers. However, information on the camera and screen technology is sparse.
“It's like the paint used to paint a painting — we want the audience to focus on the result,” said the organizers.
The alterations "will ensure that thousands of Portal fans will enjoy the experience on both sides of the Atlantic," according to the organizers.
The “Portal” will be open through the fall.
