From spiritual awakening to opening windows to the world: Asia’s first Portal now live in BGC

MANILA, Philippines — A decade ago, Benediktas Gylys went through a spiritual awakening that led him to create a network of portals that allows people from Lithuania, where it all started, to the United States and the rest of the world, which now includes the Philippines.

It will take five more years before the Lithuanian artist launches his first portal in Vinius, Lithuania and Lublin, Poland in 2021.

“In 2016, I went through a spiritual awakening and I felt very sensitive about all the hatred and all the separation of humanity, and there was some force inside of me that wanted to create something new, something that would not speak to the human mind, but something that would speak to the human spirit, to the human heart. And after that experience, the Portal idea came to me and I decided to follow my heart,” Gylys told Philstar.com at last night’s launch.

The Lithuanian artist led the unveiling of the Philippines’ Portal, a 24/7 sculpture that gives a real-time glimpse of five other “Portals” in the world. The Manila portal is located at 5th Avenue, just in front of the popular 3D LED screen, in Bonifacio Global City.

Streaming 24/7, those present at Wednesday’s launch saw how the Portal works — they can wave or flash cards with their messages to the other part of the world where a Portal is installed. Every three minutes, the Portals feature the other locations: Vilnius (Lithuania), Lublin (Poland), Dublin (Ireland), Philadelphia (United States) and Ipswich (United Kingdom).

“Portals is a network of sculptures, and it connects people above borders, above social media feeds. It connects people whom otherwise we would never meet in our lifetime. So it's a shared experience. It's a shared moment in time where we meet each other as humans,” Gylys explained about his sculptural innovation.

The artist said that the Portals — a sci-fi-looking circular sculpture with a screen on the center — looks simple but it is complicated. Admitting that he is not a technical person, Gylys said that whenever he is asked about its technology, he shares that Portals are made by a team of engineers with more than “100 ingredients.”

Without disclosing how much each Portal costs since it is an artwork, he said it takes a lot of money, work and manpower to make each installation.

The BGC Portal was made possible with the support of its partners: CMC Contract Manufacturing Pte Ltd, Eurasia Marble and Granite Inc., Excell Contractors and Developers Inc., Habitus Design Group, United Neon, UnionBank and Globe Telecom, which powers the BGC Portal with its Globe at Home connectivity.

Does it ever go off? Gylys admitted that there will be instances because it is difficult to run the software 24/7.

“Sometimes it's off, sometimes it's on, and it's imperfect. It's very human, it's very authentic, so our team is doing the best, and I think that also helps people to connect with the project because we are not some trillion dollar tech corporation. We are just a small team making it happen for the planet, for all the human family,” he said.

Sculptures and installations are sometimes put up for a limited time, but Gylys hopes the Manila Portal will stay for a very long time.

“I hope it will stay here forever. My dream for Portals is to stay forever, and I think they will stay forever here,” Gylys said.

A real-time sneak peek of Vilnius, Lithuania in the Manila Portal in Bonifacio Global City.

Philstar.com / Geraldine Santos

A spectator takes a video of the Manila Portal.

Philstar.com / Geraldine Santos

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