INSTALLATIONS
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project.” Gylys – a tech entrepreneur and best-selling author – had faced a bout of ‘spiritual emptiness’ despite his financial successes, leading him to take time off and travel the world. “He had what he describes as a mystic experience, feeling unity with the world and a sense of oneness that was fulfilling for him, so he was looking to manifest that experience of connection,” Klaus says. “That’s where the Portals concept was born.” COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU In 2016, Gylys went from idea to action, forming a team of both architects and engineers to get Portals off the ground. “Ben funded the first two himself; his private foundation provided the finances initially,” shares Klaus. Officially opening in May 2021, these still stand in Vilnius, Lithuania and Lublin, Poland – now permanent sites in both cities – “which is what the Portals are intended to be,” Klaus adds. “That kicked off a lot of publicity, much more than everyone expected. Many cities showed interest in receiving their own Portal and connecting with this initiative.” Three years later, two new Portals came into being: in Dublin, Ireland and New York, USA. “That was also quite a viral event. Dublin’s City Council was tracking it and it received over 20 billion impressions on social media,” claims Klaus. Due to an expiring permit, the New York installation moved 100 miles south-west, setting up shop again in Philadelphia in October 2024. “The year 2026 will see the 250-year anniversary of the United States, and the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philly, so the city is eager to have the Portal as a permanent landmark in order to celebrate that occasion,” Klaus details. A Portal in Piauí, Brazil has already been announced for 2025, with its sister somewhere in Asia.
Due to the amount of genuine international interest, Klaus doesn’t need to do any campaigning. “All the inquiries and partnerships we have are inbound,” he states, with requests coming from governments and city officials, as well as private individuals. With no limit to the variations in local regulations, each installation is a ‘complex project’, which must follow ‘data protection laws’, ‘safety standards and wind load requirements’. Those who reach out are typically already somewhat aware of these details, but nonetheless ‘motivated’ in adding a Portal to their own community. ALWAYS ON Before describing how they work, Klaus stresses that Portals are artworks first and foremost. “The concept is to provide a window between distant locations – so we’re not adding anything to the screen – and to have a 24/7 live stream. That’s it.” Each screen is completely identical, made primarily of concrete, steel and
Not everyone speaks English, but everyone shares the same universal language. If you just wave or smile – we know everyone can connect in that way”
The windows to other cities have proved popular tourist attractions, which can be beneficial for the locality
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