Bertram Niessen's 'Abitare il Vortice' Explores Non-Human Alliances in Future Cities
Bertram Niessen's book 'Abitare il Vortice' (UTET, 2023) examines how human-nonhuman relationships can reshape urban futures. Niessen draws on artist examples: Alan Moore's 1980s 'Swamp Thing' comics, which used horror tropes to critique Reagan-era morality and capitalism through monstrous hybrids; and Italian artist Andrea Conte (Andreco), whose work integrates environmental data, street art, and performance—such as the 100-meter mural 'Climate 04 Sea Level Rise' on Venice's Canal Grande depicting sea-level rise. The book also discusses nature-based solutions like green roofs and urban forests, citing ForestaMi in Milan, where a 2022 drought killed many trees, spurring citizen-led care initiatives. Niessen recounts the 2021 flooding of Biella's Hydro cultural center by the Cervo River, which led to the 'Fluviale' festival exploring river-human alliances. The text argues for new symbolic and legal frameworks to include non-human actors in urban governance.
Key facts
- Bertram Niessen's book 'Abitare il Vortice' published by UTET in 2023, 256 pages, €18, ISBN 9791221205053.
- Alan Moore's 'Swamp Thing' comics from the 1980s British invasion era used the monster to explore human-nature tensions and social inequalities.
- Andrea Conte (Andreco) created 'Climate 04 Sea Level Rise', a 100-meter mural on Venice's Canal Grande depicting sea-level rise and extreme waves.
- ForestaMi project in Milan aims to plant 3 million trees by 2030; a 2022 drought caused significant tree deaths, leading to a citizen group 'ForestaMi e poi DimenticaMi'.
- In 2021, the Cervo River flooded Biella's Hydro cultural center (within Cittadellarte Fondazione Pistoletto), destroying the space but causing no casualties.
- The 'Fluviale' festival in Biella featured meetings, workshops, and performances exploring river-human relationships.
- Nature-based solutions like green roofs and urban forests can provide up to 37% of climate mitigation needed for 2030 Paris Agreement targets, per IPBES.
- The book calls for new alliances between humans and non-humans (rivers, plants, animals) in urban contexts.
Entities
Artists
- Bertram Niessen
- Alan Moore
- Andrea Conte (Andreco)
Institutions
- UTET
- Cittadellarte Fondazione Pistoletto
- Hydro
- Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
- ForestaMi
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Milan
- Biella
- Cervo River
- Canal Grande
- Prato
- Rome
- Tiber Island