Dubbed the "Telectroscope", New York's latest "Look-At-Me-I'm-Cool" exhibit is located at the Fulton Ferry Landing near Brooklyn Bridge.
The concept is centuries old - something that purportedly inspired the development of fiber optic technology - digging a tunnel under and across the Atlantic Ocean, and using a series of mirrors and lenses, simulate the working of a periscope. So that someone in London could see someone in New York, in real time. Many old wives tales claim that this tunnel was secretly built.
In true "Blair Witch"-style, the artist, Paul St George, continues to go with the hype that the Telectroscope is the completion of that very project. In reality, its a broadband live video transmission of images in London, with feeds at Tower Bridge (London) and Brooklyn Bridge (New York).
The goal? Suppression of Absence. Which to me, its sounds more like Suspension of Disbelief. I guess its a gentle reminder of how close and accessible things are today, and concepts like the Telectroscope, which may seem trivial to us today, in the era of YouTube and webcams and video-teleconferencing, was a "pipe dream" (pun intended) for people who, centuries ago, craved to be connected, globally.
Aside from all the fuss, its a typical NYC "David Blaine-ish" illusion-novelty, while I'm sure plenty of SoHo plastic bimbos would probably still dig the tunnel rumor, and spread it like its hot.
In other news, where are they now?
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