Kathmandu faces growing challenges from rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, traffic congestion, life-threatening pollution, and resource shortages. As the city grapples with these issues, it must look to Buenos Aires for inspiration. Buenos Aires has emerged as a vibrant incubator for Posthumanist ideas that blur the lines between nature, technology, and human existence. Here, artists and thinkers are reimagining a future where cities float on water and humanity exists in symbiosis with the non-human world. This vision is of radical possibility—an urgent invitation to reconsider humanity’s place within a rapidly changing, interconnected world. Kathmandu must move beyond nostalgia, while preserving its heritage, to embrace radical thinking. By merging technology with nature, the City of Gods can create a sustainable, resilient future.
Many are unaware that Argentina’s intellectual landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, and Estudios Posthumanos: Año 3, Número 2 (Spring 2024) serves as a striking example of this evolution. The journal offers a compelling examination of how Posthuman critical theory, in conjunction with contemporary art, is reshaping the way we envision our future. This issue stands at the intersection of speculative thought and creative expression, highlighting how Posthuman theory critiques the existing structures of humanism and offers alternative pathways to a future that is both adaptive and sustainable.
Under the editorial direction of Gabi Balcarce, Andrea Torrano, and Juan Pablo Sabino, Estudios Posthumanos plays an important role in rethinking humanity’s relationship with the interconnected web of natural, technological, and non-human entities. These prominent Argentine scholars and editors have been at the forefront of the Posthuman studies field, using this platform to engage with complex ideas about the Anthropocene, ethics, and the evolving role of art. Balcarce, Torrano, and Sabino’s contributions to Estudios Posthumanos have significantly shaped the discourse on Posthumanism in Latin America.
The latest issue of Estudios Posthumanos showcases radical imagination, particularly through three standout pieces: “The Artistic Genesis of a Futuristic Imagination,” “Posutopia” and Hydrospatial Invention,” and “Cryptojardín.” These works embody the journal’s commitment to challenging anthropocentric narratives and exploring the potential for hybrid, adaptive futures. By interrogating the intersection of artistic expression, ecological awareness, and speculative design, they reimagine the future as a space where humans are not the center but part of a complex, interconnected ecosystem. Each piece offers critical insights into how art and design can guide us through the environmental and cultural complexities of the Anthropocene, pushing boundaries and proposing sustainable, transformative alternatives for our world.
Artistic genesis of futuristic imagination
Gyula Kosice’s “La ciudad hidroespacial” (The Hydrospatial City) is a visionary exploration that merges speculative art and futuristic urbanism. Born in Austria-Hungary (now part of Ukraine) and later establishing himself in Argentina, Kosice became a key figure in the avant-garde movement, challenging conventional ideas of architecture and urban design. His concept of hydrospatial cities—floating, adaptable urban environments that interact dynamically with water, light, and space—goes beyond mere architectural innovation. These cities represent a radical rethinking of how humanity can coexist with the environment, offering a fluid, open-ended alternative to the rigid, exploitative urban forms characteristic of modernity. Kosice’s vision emphasizes a symbiotic relationship between humans and nature, decentering human agency to make room for the influence of non-human forces.
Kosice’s speculative designs take on renewed relevance in today’s context of environmental challenges, particularly climate change. The rise of sea levels and other ecological disruptions make his hydrospatial cities not just imaginative concepts but urgent proposals for adaptive urban strategies. Kosice’s influence can be seen in contemporary projects such as Bjarke Ingels’s Oceanix, a floating city prototype that echoes the same principles of biomimetic architecture and sustainable urban planning. These modern initiatives reflect a growing recognition of the interconnectedness central to the Anthropocene, aligning with Kosice’s philosophy that urban environments should be flexible and responsive to ecological forces. In this way, Kosice’s work continues to inspire and inform new approaches to urbanism, sustainability, and our relationship with the planet.
Posutopia: Beyond fixed futures
“Posutopia” represents a radical shift from traditional, static utopian ideals, advocating instead for a process-oriented approach that embraces uncertainty and fluidity. This concept is vividly embodied in The Hydrospatial City, where Kosice’s floating, adaptable urban environments serve as living systems—constantly evolving and shaped by collaborative interactions. Kosice’s vision aligns with the essence of posutopia, proposing cities that are not fixed, idealized constructs but dynamic ecosystems, continually reshaped by the interplay between human and non-human entities to create more equitable and sustainable urban environments.

By rejecting rigid paradigms, posutopia promotes flexible, collaborative urban development, a vision reflected in cities like Rotterdam and Singapore. Rotterdam, addressing rising sea levels, has implemented water-based solutions like floating neighborhoods and green roofs, while restoring wetlands to protect infrastructure and enhance biodiversity. Singapore, with its “city in a garden” model, integrates vertical gardens, green roofs, and smart technologies to manage water, reduce energy consumption, and boost biodiversity. Both cities show how urban environments can evolve in harmony with nature, creating sustainable, resilient futures. These real-world applications underscore posutopia’s relevance, illustrating how dynamic urban spaces can support sustainability and biodiversity amid growing ecological challenges.
Digital composting and posthuman landscapes
Laura Benech’s “Cryptojardín” is a poetic and provocative exploration of digital ecosystems. This speculative artwork envisions a digital garden where themes of decay, regeneration, and symbiosis unfold in intricate layers. Laura Benech is an Argentine artist and researcher, known for her work in speculative art and digital environments. She is particularly noted for her exploration of the intersections between the organic and the digital world. Benech often focuses on themes of decay, regeneration, and symbiosis, using digital mediums to explore ecological and environmental concepts.
Furthermore, her work seeks to challenge the boundaries between the virtual and physical realms, proposing new ways to think about human and non-human relationships in the context of contemporary environmental and technological issues. In Cryptojardín, Laura Benech introduces the concept of “digital composting,” where digital and organic elements are broken down and recombined to create new possibilities. This innovative approach uses natural processes like composting as metaphors for rethinking digital systems. Through evolving visuals and fragmented narratives within the garden, Benech invites viewers to explore how nature’s cycles can be reimagined in the digital realm, challenging traditional boundaries between the virtual and the organic.
In the context of a world increasingly shaped by digital technology, Cryptojardín connects with initiatives like Google’s AI-driven efforts to support regenerative agriculture, suggesting that technology can enhance the natural world. However, Benech’s work also critiques these technological advances, emphasizing the need for ethical frameworks that recognize the interconnectedness of all life forms. By blending digital innovation with ecological consciousness, Cryptojardín calls for a more responsible and holistic approach to technology that values both the planet and its digital ecosystems.
Expanding the conversation
The radical themes explored in Estudios Posthumanos align with a growing cultural and intellectual movement that seeks to transcend anthropocentric limitations. From the rise of ecofeminism to the increasing prominence of Indigenous knowledge systems, contemporary discourse is increasingly attuned to the value of diverse perspectives in addressing global challenges. Moreover, advances in technology—from AI to biotechnology—are expanding the possibilities for Posthuman creativity. These tools enable artists and thinkers to experiment with new forms of expression and collaboration, pushing the boundaries of what art and design can achieve. By integrating these developments into their practices, contemporary creators can build on the foundation laid by pioneers like Kosice and Benech, forging paths toward more inclusive and imaginative futures.
To secure a sustainable future, Kathmandu must adopt urban planning rooted in Posthumanism—an approach that reimagines infrastructure as interconnected, resilient ecosystems that seamlessly integrate nature and technology.
Balen Shah, the mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, has faced significant obstacles in his efforts to revitalize the city, often hindered by the inertia of mainstream political parties. As a result, Kathmandu stands on the precipice of becoming an unlivable city, increasingly defined by the confluence of environmental crises, rapid urban growth, and inadequate infrastructure. With each passing year, the city grapples with rising temperatures, air pollution, and a severe water shortage—issues that now affect daily life for millions of residents. The relentless expansion of urban sprawl, coupled with the erosion of vital green spaces, has turned Kathmandu into a sprawling, congested metropolis where the balance between nature and human life is increasingly strained. Without the urgent, visionary intervention that Balen advocates, Kathmandu risks a future where the balance between human habitation and environmental sustainability devolves into a destructive tug-of-war, rather than a harmonious coexistence.
The future of Kathmandu lies in its inhabitants’ ability to propose bold, transformative solutions. Unfortunately, the central government is trapped in outdated paradigms that fail to address the city’s urgent challenges. To secure a sustainable future, Kathmandu must adopt urban planning rooted in Posthumanism—an approach that reimagines infrastructure as interconnected, resilient ecosystems that seamlessly integrate nature and technology. Public spaces could evolve into dynamic, digital gardens, akin to Cryptojardín, where advanced systems manage resources efficiently while fostering ecological harmony. Floating communities, inspired by Gyula Kosice’s hydrospatial cities, could mitigate flood risks and champion sustainable water use.
By uniting ecological awareness with cutting-edge innovation, Kathmandu has the chance to reverse environmental decline and create a thriving, harmonious urban environment. However, this vision requires a radical shift in how the metropolis, its students, and its citizens imagine the future—a shift that is currently hindered by outdated political parties acting as bottlenecks. These regressive forces stifle the radical imagination and innovation of the city’s youth, keeping Kathmandu tethered to obsolete ways of thinking. Bold, decisive action is essential—not just in policy but in cultivating a culture of imaginative risk-taking. Without it, Kathmandu risks irreversible damage, held back by political inertia and a failure to embrace transformative ideas.
As pressure mounts, the coalition geared up for a winter House session, but the debates in Nepal’s parliament remain mired in an 18th-century mindset, further alienating the country’s younger generation. Rather than sparking meaningful dialogue or driving progressive policymaking, these parliamentary sessions often devolve into yet another season of political theater—an endless display of theatrics and stagnation.
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