Reimagining Coexistence in the Anthropocene

Planetary Agencies initiates a discursive exploration of a future where the traces of human hubris have indelibly shaped the urban sphere. This reflection demands a fundamental revision of our relationship with the environment, emphasizing the necessity of reevaluating the reciprocal influences between anthropogenic actions and the natural order with sober precision. At its core lies a retrospective analysis of past decisions, whose effects have often been exacerbated by an exaggerated assumption of human centrality.

Simultaneously, an epistemological paradigm shift is proposed: the traditional anthropocentric perspective is rejected in favor of a decentered positioning of humanity within the ecological network. This shift paves the way for a conceptual expansion of the term "agency," attributing active agency not only to humans but also to non-human actors—be they animals, plants, or artificial intelligences. Here, "agency" is not understood as an anthropomorphic attribution but as the inherent capacity to influence the conditions and dynamics of a shared living environment.

This realignment calls for acknowledgment and resolution of the damages caused by human activities—often irreversible in their scope—not merely as facts but as central ethical and political challenges. Planetary Agencies employs artistic and technological methodologies to offer new perspectives on decision-making and democratic participation. These approaches propose a model of governance that not only acknowledges the interests and dynamics of non-human actors but also integrates them as essential components of political and societal processes.

Central to this vision is a material-semiotic perspective, which considers the interdependencies between physical entities and semantic constructs. This perspective enables a nuanced analysis of networks where material and ideational elements are inextricably interwoven, fostering deeper insights into the complex dynamics that shape ecological systems and urban life.

Planetary Agencies challenges the conformity of traditional frameworks, opening intellectual terrain that repositions humanity's role within the Anthropocene. It sketches a vision where human and non-human actors engage in symbiotic coexistence, collaboratively shaping a resilient, diversified, and sustainable urban landscape. This vision is neither utopian nor dystopian but serves as a conceptual model for the possibility of a harmonious equilibrium that respects and fosters the complexity and multiplicity of life on Earth.