Imagine walking down the street in Bristol and being able to look through a ‘portal’ into Paris or New York - and interacting with people thousands of miles away. It might sound like science fiction, but an art installation that is able to connect two cities in real time already exists, and those behind it are hoping to bring it to Bristol next.
The so-called Portal - a huge concrete circular installation with an enormous screen - was first trialled in 2021, connecting the cities of Vilnius, in Lithuania, and Lublin, in Poland, which are hundreds of miles apart. The 11-tonne artwork broadcasts live footage between the two cities, 24 hours a day, and allows people to communicate with each other visually in real time.
The original Portal was conceived and built by the not-for-profit Benediktas Gylys Foundation - but the technology for the artwork was developed in Bristol by Montpelier-based video firm Video Window, whose customers include Netflix, ITV and Accenture. Daryl Hutchings, Video Window’s chief executive, is now hoping to bring one to Bristol.
