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.

Unrealized Projects - Jonas Meckas

654 THINGS from The United States - Edward Ruscha

Aus: Katalog 'Kunst bleibt Kunst' - Hans Peter Feldman

Dog Jaw Monument - A Futurist Tele-introject - Leon Golub

Festival du film de famille - Pierre Huyghe

Tulips for Amsterdam - Isa Genzken

Relatum (Iron Plate and Stone) - Lee Ufan

The World is a Theater and we each have a role - Louise Bourgeois

Douglas Gordon - 5 year drive-by; proposal for a public artwork.

Time Magazine Cover - Robert Rauschenberg

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W3582
13.05.2011
Umfassung (verborgen) - Sabine Hagmann
WWW
Idee Der Perimeter des St. Johanns-Platz wird während einem Jahr exakt mit einer zweieinhalb Meter hohen Wand eingefasst. Sie schliesst das ganze Gelände ein, mit Rasen, Wegen und Parkbänken. Die kleine Rasenfläche wird durch die Wand als Volu ...
Idee Der Perimeter des St. Johanns-Platz wird während einem Jahr exakt mit einer zweieinhalb Meter hohen Wand eingefasst. Sie schliesst das ganze Gelände ein, mit Rasen, Wegen und Parkbänken. Die kleine Rasenfläche wird durch die Wand als Volu ...
U10007
01.09.1995
Merci, Thank you, Danke: Les 2 sujets  - Thomas Hirschorn
Unbuilt Roads
Pour les affichés 4x3 devant l'immeuble Valois/Saint-Honoré je propose deux sujets issus de la serie "merci, Thank you, Danke". Ces sujets sont deux collages sur carton d'un format assez petit (eviron 20x40 pour l'un et 20x40 pour l'autre) Cette serie j ...
Pour les affichés 4x3 devant l'immeuble Valois/Saint-Honoré je propose deux sujets issus de la serie "merci, Thank you, Danke". Ces sujets sont deux collages sur carton d'un format assez petit (eviron 20x40 pour l'un et 20x40 pour l'autre) Cette serie j ...
W5073
05.09.2012
Not So Easy - Emilio Rojas in collaboration with Patrick Blaeser
WWW
To a viewer of a unrealized project To the viewer This is a letter of apology to you - the viewer- for a work of art that is missing, and At the time that the issue of working together was brought forward, I was not in the perhaps will never happen. O ...
To a viewer of a unrealized project To the viewer This is a letter of apology to you - the viewer- for a work of art that is missing, and At the time that the issue of working together was brought forward, I was not in the perhaps will never happen. O ...
W5125
18.09.2012
Unsearchables - Nathiel de Large // Patrick Mohundro
WWW
Sited Articles: Consciousness as Integrated Information: a Provisional Manifesto Biol. Bull. December 2008 vol. 215 no. 3 216-242 Unsearchables Nathaniel De Large // Patrick Mohundro The premise Unsearchables lies in the archetype of Google and ...
Sited Articles: Consciousness as Integrated Information: a Provisional Manifesto Biol. Bull. December 2008 vol. 215 no. 3 216-242 Unsearchables Nathaniel De Large // Patrick Mohundro The premise Unsearchables lies in the archetype of Google and ...
W4097
23.05.2011
Hope to dwell in fear - Prapat Jiwarangsan
WWW
Hope to dwell in fear By Prapat Jiwarangsan My depressive mood, as my psychologist diagnosed, has stemmed from the attempt of my former artwork to heal my country’s social problems, some of which are unjust social classes and restrictions of freed ...
Hope to dwell in fear By Prapat Jiwarangsan My depressive mood, as my psychologist diagnosed, has stemmed from the attempt of my former artwork to heal my country’s social problems, some of which are unjust social classes and restrictions of freed ...
W4634
25.05.2011
Working for the Revolution. - Romulo Banares
WWW
Working for the Revolution. This project consists in working for the Revolution, with small actions, small changes, words. All artists work in some kind of misunderstood revolution around some personal or collective utopia. Revolution is a work in prog ...
Working for the Revolution. This project consists in working for the Revolution, with small actions, small changes, words. All artists work in some kind of misunderstood revolution around some personal or collective utopia. Revolution is a work in prog ...
W4001
22.05.2011
Michael Crowe
WWW
A proposal for Tate Modern which is a bit too costly at the moment. ...
A proposal for Tate Modern which is a bit too costly at the moment. ...
W4319
24.05.2011
(Twitter Carrier Pigeon) - seth marshall weiner
WWW
(Social Networking Utilities and the Argument for Physical Space (Twitter Carrier Pigeon) As social networking utilities continue to provide open forums for users to communicate, protest and organize, they lack the necessity for a physical space. T ...
(Social Networking Utilities and the Argument for Physical Space (Twitter Carrier Pigeon) As social networking utilities continue to provide open forums for users to communicate, protest and organize, they lack the necessity for a physical space. T ...
W4151
23.05.2011
The Treason of Images - Cornford & Cross
WWW
We were invited to submit a proposal for the Imperial War Museum, London, Commission on the aftermath of 11 September and war in Afghanistan. We proposed to install a short section of oil pipeline in Afghanistan, somewhere along one of the intended route ...
We were invited to submit a proposal for the Imperial War Museum, London, Commission on the aftermath of 11 September and war in Afghanistan. We proposed to install a short section of oil pipeline in Afghanistan, somewhere along one of the intended route ...
W4779
03.06.2011
Trolling - Karen Hibbard
WWW
This project is too expensive for me to make without a grant and physically too large without paying for storage. However, the theme is relevant as it addresses issues around global warming and climate change as well as our addiction to consumerism an ...
This project is too expensive for me to make without a grant and physically too large without paying for storage. However, the theme is relevant as it addresses issues around global warming and climate change as well as our addiction to consumerism an ...
W3862
19.05.2011
WATER’, A Concept for Exhibition (to include the Site Specific Installation titled ‘Glint’)  - Kate Petley
WWW
Water: -As historical structure for migration, agriculture, and conflict -As political catalyst -Defining geography, location, and place or point of reference -As a poetic source for all kinds of inspiration -Mutable, shape-shifting substance that ca ...
Water: -As historical structure for migration, agriculture, and conflict -As political catalyst -Defining geography, location, and place or point of reference -As a poetic source for all kinds of inspiration -Mutable, shape-shifting substance that ca ...
U9238
01.01.1994
PROJECT FOR A COMMUNITY CENTER, AVENUE DES NARCISSES, CHENOVE - Vito Acconci
Unbuilt Roads
Vito Acconci & Studio (Luis Vera, Jenny Schrider, Charles Doherty; with James Harrison, Jennifer Zackin, Jean Hahn) COMMUNITY CENTER, AVENUE DES NARCISSES, CHENOVE, FRANCE 1994 (To be built, 1998) Grass, trees, concrete, asphalt, steel, glass, lights, ...
Vito Acconci & Studio (Luis Vera, Jenny Schrider, Charles Doherty; with James Harrison, Jennifer Zackin, Jean Hahn) COMMUNITY CENTER, AVENUE DES NARCISSES, CHENOVE, FRANCE 1994 (To be built, 1998) Grass, trees, concrete, asphalt, steel, glass, lights, ...
W3516
11.05.2011
Hugo Houayek
WWW
To build bridges supporting pillars are needed. To construct pillars art is necessary. Build permanent bridges with ephemeral colored pillars. ...
To build bridges supporting pillars are needed. To construct pillars art is necessary. Build permanent bridges with ephemeral colored pillars. ...
W4328
24.05.2011
Brian McLendon
WWW
The project is an installation that can only be experienced via physical movement through the work. I would create an environment channeling the movement of observers through the fair into an unavoidable act of participation, altering its spaces into ...
The project is an installation that can only be experienced via physical movement through the work. I would create an environment channeling the movement of observers through the fair into an unavoidable act of participation, altering its spaces into ...
W4481
25.05.2011
Social Media Surrogate  - Jesse Fulton
WWW
Fulton 1 Social Media Surrogate Summary Social Media Surrogate is a conceptual online performance. The piece in its simplest form consists of the following four actions: 1. Write a script to gather data from a social network which accurately character ...
Fulton 1 Social Media Surrogate Summary Social Media Surrogate is a conceptual online performance. The piece in its simplest form consists of the following four actions: 1. Write a script to gather data from a social network which accurately character ...
W5101
13.09.2012
Copa & Sordes
WWW
and an another proposal for an ornament in art context ...
and an another proposal for an ornament in art context ...
W3880
19.05.2011
fly-though - Kasper Kovitz
WWW
‘fly-though’ animation of this project at: http://www.re-title.com/artists/Kasper-Kovitz3.asp ‘witchbunker’, a project begun in 2001, is a walk-in sculpture. It consists of a one-room traditional American pioneer log cabin encased in a concret ...
‘fly-though’ animation of this project at: http://www.re-title.com/artists/Kasper-Kovitz3.asp ‘witchbunker’, a project begun in 2001, is a walk-in sculpture. It consists of a one-room traditional American pioneer log cabin encased in a concret ...
W3602
13.05.2011
Dreamland: A great Freudian Theme Park - Zoe Beloff
WWW
This as yet unrealized project aims rebuild Coney Island’s famous Dreamland amusement park that burned down in 1911, as a true Freudian theme park. ...
This as yet unrealized project aims rebuild Coney Island’s famous Dreamland amusement park that burned down in 1911, as a true Freudian theme park. ...
W4238
24.05.2011
'HANOI DUCKS' - Dao Anh Khanh & Tamas Jovanovics
WWW
Dao Anh Khanh & Tamas Jovanovics 'HANOI DUCKS' (work title) PUBLIC ART PROJECT - in order to seek general awareness for ecological topics in Hanoi/Vietnam Project status: seeking for fundings Background of the project: After a long period of po ...
Dao Anh Khanh & Tamas Jovanovics 'HANOI DUCKS' (work title) PUBLIC ART PROJECT - in order to seek general awareness for ecological topics in Hanoi/Vietnam Project status: seeking for fundings Background of the project: After a long period of po ...
W4050
22.05.2011
Dublin book project. - leo Morrissey
WWW
Books are the source material for my work; I propose to create a series of cut-books influenced on my stay in Dublin. Irelands great literary tradition and the importance of text, language, and history in my work makes Dublin an ideal place for me to crea ...
Books are the source material for my work; I propose to create a series of cut-books influenced on my stay in Dublin. Irelands great literary tradition and the importance of text, language, and history in my work makes Dublin an ideal place for me to crea ...
W4469
25.05.2011
Straight-Line Residency Project (SLRP):  - Margaret Roberts
WWW
Straight-Line Residency Project (SLRP): Executive summary A. The SLRP aims to • support interdimensional travel from virtual to physical space, • encourage the re-valuation of physical space by showing it as a desirable destination for interdimens ...
Straight-Line Residency Project (SLRP): Executive summary A. The SLRP aims to • support interdimensional travel from virtual to physical space, • encourage the re-valuation of physical space by showing it as a desirable destination for interdimens ...
W4493
25.05.2011
Luzia Simons/
WWW
W4405
25.05.2011
John Gayer
WWW
The Church of Aesthetic Psychology. The is merely the title of an idea that came up in the mid-1980s when tele-evangelists such as Jim Bakker, Jerry Falwell and Jimmy Swaggart were active. The idea was to better people's lives through art and design. ...
The Church of Aesthetic Psychology. The is merely the title of an idea that came up in the mid-1980s when tele-evangelists such as Jim Bakker, Jerry Falwell and Jimmy Swaggart were active. The idea was to better people's lives through art and design. ...
W4548
25.05.2011
CHIASMA - Kristin Jones / Andrew Ginzel
WWW
CHIASMA Chiasma will be a contemplative work integrated with both the context and architecture of the University of Central Florida’s new Health Sciences campus, Tavistock Common. At the heart of the Common’s grand expanse, the elements that compri ...
CHIASMA Chiasma will be a contemplative work integrated with both the context and architecture of the University of Central Florida’s new Health Sciences campus, Tavistock Common. At the heart of the Common’s grand expanse, the elements that compri ...
W10431
22.04.2014
Digital Lacuna - Nicolas Barrette
WWW
The aim of this project is to offer a new way of perceiving the internet and its influence on the physical environment. WIFI points across the city are mapped in a GIS across the city of Toronto. Where the points of highest density exist, pneumatic dom ...
The aim of this project is to offer a new way of perceiving the internet and its influence on the physical environment. WIFI points across the city are mapped in a GIS across the city of Toronto. Where the points of highest density exist, pneumatic dom ...
U9804
25.03.1997
Unrealized Projects - Jonas Meckas
Unbuilt Roads
Dear Hans Ulrich: Tonight I am thinking about my unrealized projects. I have many of them. One is: To publish a book of IDEAS. I consider that ideas are the cheapest thing in the world. I have about 10,000 of them. But I have no time to put them all in ...
Dear Hans Ulrich: Tonight I am thinking about my unrealized projects. I have many of them. One is: To publish a book of IDEAS. I consider that ideas are the cheapest thing in the world. I have about 10,000 of them. But I have no time to put them all in ...