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.

Monumento all'agricoltura 1969-70 - Alighiero Boetti

Relatum (Iron Plate and Stone) - Lee Ufan

The pyramids...to be seen to be believed - Jonathan Monk

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

MAK - Wien  - Rosemarie Trockel

Engel-Detektor - Jakob Gautel & Jason Karaïndros

Invitation Space No.1 - Tania Mouraud

The Rosetta Garden - Gary Simmons

Fax Transmission - Raymond Pettibone and Jason Rhoades

Unrealized Turtles 1967 - Joseph Grigely

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W4152
23.05.2011
She - Cornford & Cross
WWW
We proposed to position an eternal flame in physical and symbolic relation to the Lion statue in Forbury Gardens, Reading, England.. The Lion commemorates a battle in 1880 in Maiwand, Afghanistan — Britain’s last military involvement in Afghanistan b ...
We proposed to position an eternal flame in physical and symbolic relation to the Lion statue in Forbury Gardens, Reading, England.. The Lion commemorates a battle in 1880 in Maiwand, Afghanistan — Britain’s last military involvement in Afghanistan b ...
W4645
25.05.2011
Deployable Detention Center: Porta-Prison - Jenny Polak
WWW
Deployable Detention Center: Porta-Prison. A proposal by Jenny Polak 500 ch Porta-Prison is a fictional design proposal: a deployable detention center conceived to bring seasonal labour to farms. The project includes an interactive promotional website ...
Deployable Detention Center: Porta-Prison. A proposal by Jenny Polak 500 ch Porta-Prison is a fictional design proposal: a deployable detention center conceived to bring seasonal labour to farms. The project includes an interactive promotional website ...
W4138
23.05.2011
No manʼs land - Constanza Alarcón Tennen
WWW
No manʼs land This installation was projected for Sala SAM, a gallery in Santiago de Chile, to be exhibited in August 2010. Because of the abrupt closure of the gallery, the Project was stoped a month before opening. No manʼs land was based in the obs ...
No manʼs land This installation was projected for Sala SAM, a gallery in Santiago de Chile, to be exhibited in August 2010. Because of the abrupt closure of the gallery, the Project was stoped a month before opening. No manʼs land was based in the obs ...
W4972
24.08.2012
Memories on the Falls - R. Songe Lee
WWW
Memories on the Falls Video projection by R. Songe Lee Place: Niagara Falls Memory of people traverses through space and time that is projected onto the Niagara Falls. There are two projections, one waterfall with a space that still exists ...
Memories on the Falls Video projection by R. Songe Lee Place: Niagara Falls Memory of people traverses through space and time that is projected onto the Niagara Falls. There are two projections, one waterfall with a space that still exists ...
W5067
05.09.2012
Color Pencil Tree - Dave Rittinger
WWW
Artist and designer Dave Rittinger has developed a proposal for a public art installation entitled 'Color Pencil Tree'. The arboreal sculpture morphs tree branches with the body of the colored drawing tools. The concept is dictated by the usage of exist ...
Artist and designer Dave Rittinger has developed a proposal for a public art installation entitled 'Color Pencil Tree'. The arboreal sculpture morphs tree branches with the body of the colored drawing tools. The concept is dictated by the usage of exist ...
W4505
25.05.2011
NEW NEW AGE - Eduardo Navarro
WWW
NEW NEW AGE The project seeks to capitalize the kinetic energy generated at a gym. Transforming the movement of the stationary bikes, running machines, work out machines, etc into electrical energy with the use of dynamos. The gym will be independent of ...
NEW NEW AGE The project seeks to capitalize the kinetic energy generated at a gym. Transforming the movement of the stationary bikes, running machines, work out machines, etc into electrical energy with the use of dynamos. The gym will be independent of ...
W4674
26.05.2011
traps as artworks and artworks as traps - Daniel Rubim
WWW
“There cannot be a hammer by itself; A hammer implies on nails to be hammered, Wood to hammer them into, saw to shape the wood And so forth.” Alfred Gell – Vogel’s net: traps as artworks and artworks as traps Migrations is the process of ...
“There cannot be a hammer by itself; A hammer implies on nails to be hammered, Wood to hammer them into, saw to shape the wood And so forth.” Alfred Gell – Vogel’s net: traps as artworks and artworks as traps Migrations is the process of ...
U9978
01.01.1972
Social Resource Project For the Munich Olympics - Stephen Willats
Unbuilt Roads
The social resource project for the Munich Olympics is specifically directed at members of athletic clubs and the audience of athletic fixtures. The project aims to get participants to articulate the rules and perceptual structure of the athletic social e ...
The social resource project for the Munich Olympics is specifically directed at members of athletic clubs and the audience of athletic fixtures. The project aims to get participants to articulate the rules and perceptual structure of the athletic social e ...
U9997
16.01.1997
Nicht realisierte Projekte - Stefan Demary
Unbuilt Roads
Lieber Hans - Ulrich! Nochmals Danke für die nette Einlandung. In dem Buch, Meine normale Arbeitsweine mit meine künstlerischen Ideen for laufend auf listen zu schreiben. Diese werden zum Teil Jahre später erst realisiert, allendings zählt als jah ...
Lieber Hans - Ulrich! Nochmals Danke für die nette Einlandung. In dem Buch, Meine normale Arbeitsweine mit meine künstlerischen Ideen for laufend auf listen zu schreiben. Diese werden zum Teil Jahre später erst realisiert, allendings zählt als jah ...
W5337
18.10.2012
how to recall what never happened
WWW
The idea stem from Lis’81 – The International Drawing Biennale of Lisbon, which was expected to take place at the National Gallery of Modern Art of Belém, but ended up consumed in a fire, during its installation, the only thing left is the catalogue. ...
The idea stem from Lis’81 – The International Drawing Biennale of Lisbon, which was expected to take place at the National Gallery of Modern Art of Belém, but ended up consumed in a fire, during its installation, the only thing left is the catalogue. ...
W4360
25.05.2011
Acousmatic Mapping of the Neo-Metropolis  - Nicholas M. Dreyer
WWW
Acousmatic Mapping of the Neo-Metropolis Shanghai Metro Residency Nicholas Maximilian Dreyer As long as I have been alive, I have used forms of public transportation – public buses in the small town I come from, and metro systems in any larger cit ...
Acousmatic Mapping of the Neo-Metropolis Shanghai Metro Residency Nicholas Maximilian Dreyer As long as I have been alive, I have used forms of public transportation – public buses in the small town I come from, and metro systems in any larger cit ...
W3824
19.05.2011
MARK PRIME
WWW
These installations are part of an ongoing series experimenting with light in 3 dimensional spaces. They are created using a high power laser, refracted in the space using mirrors. The effect is like drawing with pure light: intense, pure, random an ...
These installations are part of an ongoing series experimenting with light in 3 dimensional spaces. They are created using a high power laser, refracted in the space using mirrors. The effect is like drawing with pure light: intense, pure, random an ...
W5132
19.09.2012
Leo Morrissey
WWW
Leo Morrissey 310 West 4th Street 1107 Winston Salem NC, 27101 USA 336-473 –3888 Leomorrissey58@hotmail.com Lmorrissey22@hotmail.com Project Concept – (Summary/Description ) Create a postcard in an edition of 8875 (representing the popula ...
Leo Morrissey 310 West 4th Street 1107 Winston Salem NC, 27101 USA 336-473 –3888 Leomorrissey58@hotmail.com Lmorrissey22@hotmail.com Project Concept – (Summary/Description ) Create a postcard in an edition of 8875 (representing the popula ...
W4344
24.05.2011
Proposal for installation March 2010 - John Kenny
WWW
Proposal for installation March 2010 ...
Proposal for installation March 2010 ...
W3797
18.05.2011
Kerry Stuart Coppin
WWW
An unrealized project, submitted to the Agency of Unrealized Projects (AUP), May 18, 20011: PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION OF THE STONE CIRCLES OF SENEGAL AND THE GAMBIA ...
An unrealized project, submitted to the Agency of Unrealized Projects (AUP), May 18, 20011: PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION OF THE STONE CIRCLES OF SENEGAL AND THE GAMBIA ...
W5396
20.10.2012
Reason - Darío Corbeira
WWW
Representations of space must… have a substantial role and a specific influence in the production of space Henri Lefebvre Reason Reason is a 1994 unrealized project. Try to relate Art, Enlightenment, the development class city, urban geography, cl ...
Representations of space must… have a substantial role and a specific influence in the production of space Henri Lefebvre Reason Reason is a 1994 unrealized project. Try to relate Art, Enlightenment, the development class city, urban geography, cl ...
W3959
20.05.2011
Wall - Jeanne Friscia
WWW
"Wall" is a text-based installation of each of George Bush's State of the Union Addresses alphabetized and shown in consecutive order. The project is unfinished because I have only printed one of the speeches and have not found a venue interested. In ...
"Wall" is a text-based installation of each of George Bush's State of the Union Addresses alphabetized and shown in consecutive order. The project is unfinished because I have only printed one of the speeches and have not found a venue interested. In ...
W3818
19.05.2011
Kelly Jazvac and Patrick Howlett
WWW
An abstract public sculpture that doubles as a large scale bike rack. Our proposal is for a large-scale, powder-coated steel sculpture to be installed in the outdoor sculpture garden at the SculptureCenter. The project will appear to be a prototypical ...
An abstract public sculpture that doubles as a large scale bike rack. Our proposal is for a large-scale, powder-coated steel sculpture to be installed in the outdoor sculpture garden at the SculptureCenter. The project will appear to be a prototypical ...
W4077
23.05.2011
The Museum of Patheticness - Sadie Hennessy
WWW
A short proposal for Matt's Gallery entitled 'The Museum of Patheticness' THE MUSEUM OF PATHETICNESS It has been a long held ambition of mine to establish a Museum of Patheticness. My interest in the idea of patheticness was kindled by my sightings ...
A short proposal for Matt's Gallery entitled 'The Museum of Patheticness' THE MUSEUM OF PATHETICNESS It has been a long held ambition of mine to establish a Museum of Patheticness. My interest in the idea of patheticness was kindled by my sightings ...
W5056
03.09.2012
School of Pharmacy in Sevilla - Taller Basico de Arquitectura [TBA]
WWW
School of Pharmacy in Sevilla (2011) We propose to build a new public space, a place opened to students and visitors, a room for the city. This room recreates an enclosed space, a courtyard. The new public space is affected by movements and pedestrian ...
School of Pharmacy in Sevilla (2011) We propose to build a new public space, a place opened to students and visitors, a room for the city. This room recreates an enclosed space, a courtyard. The new public space is affected by movements and pedestrian ...
W4231
24.05.2011
"Sand Uproar, Sand Glass” - Orit Ishay
WWW
"Sand Uproar, Sand Glass” Orit Ishay Tel-Aviv city, also called "the white city", has recently celebrated a 100 years to its establishment. According to conventional public narrative, this is a city that was raised on pure sands, unlike other place ...
"Sand Uproar, Sand Glass” Orit Ishay Tel-Aviv city, also called "the white city", has recently celebrated a 100 years to its establishment. According to conventional public narrative, this is a city that was raised on pure sands, unlike other place ...
U9646
16.01.1997
Dog Jaw Monument - A Futurist Tele-introject - Leon Golub
Unbuilt Roads
Years: A.D 2096, A.D. 2777, A.D. 3096 See drawing (to be submitted if desired) note: time - 2096 - becoming a critical exponential extension of the artist's hand (eventual reasons why the work has not been realised) Project has not reached a cri ...
Years: A.D 2096, A.D. 2777, A.D. 3096 See drawing (to be submitted if desired) note: time - 2096 - becoming a critical exponential extension of the artist's hand (eventual reasons why the work has not been realised) Project has not reached a cri ...
W4173
24.05.2011
Mitya Nesterov
WWW
Project with a work title ZOO, series of hand printed color photographs installed inside animal and bird cages ...
Project with a work title ZOO, series of hand printed color photographs installed inside animal and bird cages ...
W3640
14.05.2011
Proposal for a cooperation between a university and myself to solar light up a village in Lebanon.  - Roula Sorour
WWW
I never received any reply to my mail and therefore the project is in hybernation mode for now. Dear Professors, I read about the 2 jordanian bedouin illiterate women who were sent to India for 6 month to train as Solar engineers . Something similar ...
I never received any reply to my mail and therefore the project is in hybernation mode for now. Dear Professors, I read about the 2 jordanian bedouin illiterate women who were sent to India for 6 month to train as Solar engineers . Something similar ...
W4699
26.05.2011
I never said I was deep - Marcela Torres
WWW
“I never said I was deep” is the name of a project that deals with notions such as How can we retell History? And how can we manage to live with the official facts in History and ap-ply them to our everyday life and our own notions of them. Some of ...
“I never said I was deep” is the name of a project that deals with notions such as How can we retell History? And how can we manage to live with the official facts in History and ap-ply them to our everyday life and our own notions of them. Some of ...
W4197
24.05.2011
HOME–WORLD - Madeleine Preston & Silvija Lomanaite
WWW
HOME–WORLD, The Sustainable Debate – Project Space proposal Silvija Lomanaite – Interior Designer and Madeleine Preston – Artist We met while working at the Whitehouse Institute of Design and found a common interest in contemporary issues in a ...
HOME–WORLD, The Sustainable Debate – Project Space proposal Silvija Lomanaite – Interior Designer and Madeleine Preston – Artist We met while working at the Whitehouse Institute of Design and found a common interest in contemporary issues in a ...