It’s safe to say that people were disappointed in The Portal’s closure. After May 14th, the day the connection was cut, flowers were put at the screen’s base, as if in memoriam. However, there may be more opportunities to experience this type of artwork. As of right now, there is another installation that connects Lublin, Poland to Vilnius, Lithuania and more seem to be on the way.
According to a statement made by the organizers, the goal is to “redefine the boundaries of artistic expression and connectivity” enhancing “joy and connectedness” for those who find themselves in target cities.
A German tourist visiting Dublin, Matthias Rebbert, stated, “it’s obviously very entertaining, even if there’s nothing happening on the other side,” as per the New York Times. “I would love to see it in Berlin as well.”
Many others feel the same as Rebbert, as the piece of public art attracted tens of thousands of visitors within its first week. Another tourist, Christine Santen from Paris, said she had been trying to catch a glimpse of it during her time in Ireland. Once she succeeded, she said it was “merveilleux!”
