Unlike unrealized architectural projects, which are frequently exhibited and circulated, unrealized artworks tend to remain unnoticed or little known. But perhaps there is another form of artistic agency in the partial expression, the incomplete idea, the projection of a mere intention? Agency of Unrealized Projects (AUP) seeks to document and display these works. Whether censored, forgotten, postponed, impossible, or rejected, unrealized projects form a unique testament to the speculative power of non-action.

AUP follows the publication entitled “Unbuilt Roads: 107 Unrealized Projects,” collated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Guy Tortosa after several years of international research conducted in the late 1990s. Twenty years later, the Agency of Unrealized Projects was formed in collaboration with Julieta Aranda and Anton Vidokle, and an open call for unrealized projects was issued for its first public exhibition at ArtBasel in 2011. The open call will continue until all unrealized art projects are compiled.

NON REALIZED PROJECTS - Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Entwurf für einen erneuerten Malkasten 1992 - 1994 - Ulrike Holthöfer

Electronic Theater - Laurie Anderson

Project tor the Veterans Administration Hospital--Bay Pines, Florida. - Robert Morris

Monument to Democracy - Kounellis

Nicht realisierte Projekte - Stefan Demary

To Two Too; Hypothetical Monument for a Natural Disaster - Jeffrey Wisniewski

Art and Ourselves: A Proposal for the city of Nordhorn - Allen Rupperssberg

Brücke Wein-Kanal Arch. Hermann Czech, Wein - Franz West

Niemandsland - Hans Haacke

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
#
Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W10569
12.06.2014
Roof Garden Proposal, Queen Street Station, Glasgow - Logan Sisley
WWW
This was a proposal in 2005 to plant a roof garden on a canopy connecting Queen Street Rail Station to Buchanan Street Subway Station. The idea was sent to various representatives in Scottish Rail and Strathclyde Passenger Transport. While it was deemed u ...
This was a proposal in 2005 to plant a roof garden on a canopy connecting Queen Street Rail Station to Buchanan Street Subway Station. The idea was sent to various representatives in Scottish Rail and Strathclyde Passenger Transport. While it was deemed u ...
W4185
24.05.2011
The Circumference is Everywhere - Daniel R Small
WWW
The Circumference is Everywhere, 2011 100 miles Northeast of Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert lies a city abandoned in advance of itself, a ruin that is an aerial monument to misguided optimism that was conceived of by Nat Mendelsohn and intended to r ...
The Circumference is Everywhere, 2011 100 miles Northeast of Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert lies a city abandoned in advance of itself, a ruin that is an aerial monument to misguided optimism that was conceived of by Nat Mendelsohn and intended to r ...
W4241
24.05.2011
Atsunobu KOHIRA
WWW
Le projet que je propose est une installation sonore dans un paysage naturel qui reprend le fonctionnement d’une horloge. Le jour commence et finit par la cloche de l’église, ou le temple qui indique les horaires tous les jours dans la vie quoti ...
Le projet que je propose est une installation sonore dans un paysage naturel qui reprend le fonctionnement d’une horloge. Le jour commence et finit par la cloche de l’église, ou le temple qui indique les horaires tous les jours dans la vie quoti ...
W5456
20.10.2012
“short hi.stories” series - Plamen Yordanov
WWW
waste not art “short hi.stories” series 1995 – ongoing unrealized/unrealizable project intended for installation at the Serpentine Gallery, London (or any other museum that wishes to exhibit the project) by Plamen Yordanov descriptio ...
waste not art “short hi.stories” series 1995 – ongoing unrealized/unrealizable project intended for installation at the Serpentine Gallery, London (or any other museum that wishes to exhibit the project) by Plamen Yordanov descriptio ...
W4912
14.08.2012
Kiarash Alimi
WWW
An artwork for a better understanding of the necessity of Arab-Israeli peace. This artwork is based on the metonymic nature of the hebrew word eretz meaning land, soil and ground. Land that is for israelites to take back with bloody wars against other ...
An artwork for a better understanding of the necessity of Arab-Israeli peace. This artwork is based on the metonymic nature of the hebrew word eretz meaning land, soil and ground. Land that is for israelites to take back with bloody wars against other ...
W4087
23.05.2011
Apartamentul / Infobox for Bucharest - mona vatamanu & florin tudor
WWW
Apartamentul / Infobox for Bucharest This architectural space was thought as a place where the memory of the city should had been activated through different initiatives and projects. The need to link our present, our memory with our recent past led us ...
Apartamentul / Infobox for Bucharest This architectural space was thought as a place where the memory of the city should had been activated through different initiatives and projects. The need to link our present, our memory with our recent past led us ...
W5292
16.10.2012
Along horizontality - Joanna Geldard
WWW
Along horizontality Joanna Geldard My studies into the nature of horizontality extend to integrate an approach to space and site in non-spaces/in-between spaces. It aims to negotiate and contribute to the interpretations of non-spaces on the ed ...
Along horizontality Joanna Geldard My studies into the nature of horizontality extend to integrate an approach to space and site in non-spaces/in-between spaces. It aims to negotiate and contribute to the interpretations of non-spaces on the ed ...
W4315
24.05.2011
Catherine Vieira
WWW
For this public art installation, Invisible border, Paris-based artist Catherine Vieira proposes installing along East River State Park in Brooklyn a four layers of mesh fabric tent. ...
For this public art installation, Invisible border, Paris-based artist Catherine Vieira proposes installing along East River State Park in Brooklyn a four layers of mesh fabric tent. ...
W4516
25.05.2011
Viktor Timofeev
WWW
In this painting I have "created" a triumphal arch constructed out of 13 worker-housing units, stacked precariously and defying the laws of physics. While this village/monument is rendered to appear structurally sound, its context is most certainly utopia ...
In this painting I have "created" a triumphal arch constructed out of 13 worker-housing units, stacked precariously and defying the laws of physics. While this village/monument is rendered to appear structurally sound, its context is most certainly utopia ...
W4062
23.05.2011
List of Musicians for Inclusion in Predictive Text - Song-Ming Ang
WWW
Dear Nokia, List of Musicians for Inclusion in Predictive Text I would like to offer a suggestion for your company, which is to include the names of commonly mentioned musicians into the word list of the Predictive Text function. As an avid ...
Dear Nokia, List of Musicians for Inclusion in Predictive Text I would like to offer a suggestion for your company, which is to include the names of commonly mentioned musicians into the word list of the Predictive Text function. As an avid ...
W5086
09.09.2012
Underwater Forest - Hans Feyerabend
WWW
Underwater Forest Suspended sculpture for Palmetto Bay Village Hall, Florida Underwater Forest is a large sculptural installation suspended from a 30’ ceiling, measuring 18’ in diameter. Its formal language derived from amorphous maritime life. Th ...
Underwater Forest Suspended sculpture for Palmetto Bay Village Hall, Florida Underwater Forest is a large sculptural installation suspended from a 30’ ceiling, measuring 18’ in diameter. Its formal language derived from amorphous maritime life. Th ...
W3702
17.05.2011
The Ninth Circle of Obsession - the project for group exhibition - Izabela Ołdak
WWW
Obsession is a mental state, the inability to free yourself from intrusive thoughts, images, or from performing the same actions. Obsession is also a type of anxiety disorder, reflected by the presence of irrational thoughts and impulses, which are accom ...
Obsession is a mental state, the inability to free yourself from intrusive thoughts, images, or from performing the same actions. Obsession is also a type of anxiety disorder, reflected by the presence of irrational thoughts and impulses, which are accom ...
W4393
25.05.2011
Ground Control - Sylvia Schwenk
WWW
SYLVIA SCHWENK PROJECT CONCEPT STATEMENT Ground Control is a work of participatory performance art that will be presented in two stages. The first stage will be a live performance that will take place at night-time by everyday-people-cum-performers ...
SYLVIA SCHWENK PROJECT CONCEPT STATEMENT Ground Control is a work of participatory performance art that will be presented in two stages. The first stage will be a live performance that will take place at night-time by everyday-people-cum-performers ...
W3592
13.05.2011
ROTTEN SHARKS - paololuca barbieri
WWW
This Film is never been made but it has a phantom on the web at: www.rottensharks.com by Alterazioni Video EXT- NORDIC SEA – SUNDOWN A former fisherman’s boat, now just a dingy filled with a crew of desperados, is roaming along the cold ...
This Film is never been made but it has a phantom on the web at: www.rottensharks.com by Alterazioni Video EXT- NORDIC SEA – SUNDOWN A former fisherman’s boat, now just a dingy filled with a crew of desperados, is roaming along the cold ...
W3793
18.05.2011
Bathhaus - Guillermo Creus
WWW
This project was originally submitted to De Appel Curatorial Programme and was rejected in its original format (my original idea was to have the project proposal to be the project in itself). Freida Abtan, Peter Dobill and Aïda Ruilova. Curated by ...
This project was originally submitted to De Appel Curatorial Programme and was rejected in its original format (my original idea was to have the project proposal to be the project in itself). Freida Abtan, Peter Dobill and Aïda Ruilova. Curated by ...
W3733
18.05.2011
“Veil” - Felippe Moraes
WWW
“Veil” The intervention, in the simulations proposed for “Teatro Colón” in Peru and “Paço das Artes” in São Paulo - Brazil, works by placing 3 fog machines in the top of the specific building. These machines produce smoke that are than c ...
“Veil” The intervention, in the simulations proposed for “Teatro Colón” in Peru and “Paço das Artes” in São Paulo - Brazil, works by placing 3 fog machines in the top of the specific building. These machines produce smoke that are than c ...
W3590
13.05.2011
IN-OUTDOOR PROJECT - Helena Trindade
WWW
Unrealized Public Art Project For images and text please refer to the PDF ...
Unrealized Public Art Project For images and text please refer to the PDF ...
W3911
20.05.2011
A proposal for PITT. (Did not happen) - Nicole Mortiboys
WWW
A proposal for PITT. (Did not happen) pittstudio@com. The proposal to Nathan Pitt of PITT, was to make up an inflatable copy of cartoon hand, (see image attached).To the same size as the gallery space. The hand would be placed in the gallery before b ...
A proposal for PITT. (Did not happen) pittstudio@com. The proposal to Nathan Pitt of PITT, was to make up an inflatable copy of cartoon hand, (see image attached).To the same size as the gallery space. The hand would be placed in the gallery before b ...
W4807
07.08.2012
Wreck  - Boris Ondreička
WWW
sitting on the driver´s seat of the car wreck reading poems / singing lyrics aloud a couple having sex under that wreck 30 minutes 30 people listening / watching silently standing around and around midnight Wreck, Boris Ondreička ...
sitting on the driver´s seat of the car wreck reading poems / singing lyrics aloud a couple having sex under that wreck 30 minutes 30 people listening / watching silently standing around and around midnight Wreck, Boris Ondreička ...
W4311
24.05.2011
A contemporary folk dance  - Adam Lewin
WWW
A contemporary folk dance with mobility scooters. It has been a long tog time dream of mine to do a choreographed performance of the handicapped utilizing mobility scooters whilst filming it overhead in the style of a Busby Berkeley film. ...
A contemporary folk dance with mobility scooters. It has been a long tog time dream of mine to do a choreographed performance of the handicapped utilizing mobility scooters whilst filming it overhead in the style of a Busby Berkeley film. ...
W3810
18.05.2011
Convention - David K. Ross
WWW
Convention' was an unsolicited, and as I found out in March of this year, unaccepted proposal to the promoters of the Toronto International Art Fair. ...
Convention' was an unsolicited, and as I found out in March of this year, unaccepted proposal to the promoters of the Toronto International Art Fair. ...
U9668
21.02.1997
Niemandsland - Hans Haacke
Unbuilt Roads
Eine Kreisfläche von ca. 30m Durchmesser ist auf dem offenen zum Ministerium für Bildung und Wiesenschaft und dem Ministerium für Justiz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland gehörenden ebenen Gelände in Bonn-BadGodesberg zu markieren, wenn möglich auf d ...
Eine Kreisfläche von ca. 30m Durchmesser ist auf dem offenen zum Ministerium für Bildung und Wiesenschaft und dem Ministerium für Justiz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland gehörenden ebenen Gelände in Bonn-BadGodesberg zu markieren, wenn möglich auf d ...
W4607
25.05.2011
Latent Online gallery of unrealised art works launched  - Blaithin Quinn - Latent
WWW
Latent Online gallery of unrealised art works launched Press Release: Dublin, Ireland; 25 May 2011 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Latent is a curated, web-based gallery that reveals the often forgotten, postponed or edited ideas of unrealised art works. ...
Latent Online gallery of unrealised art works launched Press Release: Dublin, Ireland; 25 May 2011 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Latent is a curated, web-based gallery that reveals the often forgotten, postponed or edited ideas of unrealised art works. ...
W4294
24.05.2011
Holger C. Lönze
WWW
The proposed two-part sculpture draws from the rich maritime heritage of the Atlantic and celebrates the elements that have determined the lives of generations of local communities: wind and tides. The context for the two parts of the work are the iconic ...
The proposed two-part sculpture draws from the rich maritime heritage of the Atlantic and celebrates the elements that have determined the lives of generations of local communities: wind and tides. The context for the two parts of the work are the iconic ...
W4693
26.05.2011
a flower every day - Nina Meledandri
WWW
a flower every day was a multi-media response to Marina Abramovic’s Museum of Modern Art retrospective and performance piece: The Artist Is Present (March 14-May 31 2010). It remains an unfinished project i often respond to the work of others, not ...
a flower every day was a multi-media response to Marina Abramovic’s Museum of Modern Art retrospective and performance piece: The Artist Is Present (March 14-May 31 2010). It remains an unfinished project i often respond to the work of others, not ...
W4237
24.05.2011
Susanna Byrne
WWW
People are incalculable, not perfect organisms. Systems and processes require the functioning of all the appropriate elements of a formula - remove, alter, adjust or replace any and the algorithm will malfunction. There is a vernacular of aesthetics emb ...
People are incalculable, not perfect organisms. Systems and processes require the functioning of all the appropriate elements of a formula - remove, alter, adjust or replace any and the algorithm will malfunction. There is a vernacular of aesthetics emb ...