JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://netdna.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.1.1/css/bootstrap.min.css">
<div class="col-sm-4 portfolio-item dontwantpadding">
   <div class='tri-up'>
      <svg width="200px" height="200px" viewBox="0 0 100 87">
         <clipPath id="clipTriangleUp">
            <polygon points="0 87,100 87,50 0"/>
         </clipPath>
         <a id="svgtriangle"
            xlink:href="#portfolioModal3" class="portfolio-link">
            <image clip-path="url(#clipTriangleUp)" preserveAspectRatio="none"
                   width="100%" height="100%"
                   xlink:href="http://placehold.it/1749x1510"/>
          </a>
      </svg>
   </div>
</div>


<div class="modal fade" id="myModal">
  <div class="modal-dialog">
    <div class="modal-content">
      <div class="modal-header">
        <button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="modal" aria-label="Close"><span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span></button>
        <h4 class="modal-title">Modal title</h4>
      </div>
      <div class="modal-body">
        <p>One fine body&hellip;</p>
      </div>
      <div class="modal-footer">
        <button type="button" class="btn btn-default" data-dismiss="modal">Close</button>
        <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary">Save changes</button>
      </div>
    </div><!-- /.modal-content -->
  </div><!-- /.modal-dialog -->
</div><!-- /.modal -->

JavaScript

var  triangle = document.getElementById("svgtriangle");

triangle.addEventListener('click', function(evt) {
    $('#myModal').modal('show');
});