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.

Proposal for a permanent video installation for the NYC headquarters of Sony Corporation - Dara Birnbaum

Project 1 + Project 2 - Simryn Gill

"Ileana, I love you" - Maurizo Cattelan

The lmprobable Flow - Larry Bell

The bridge according to Jeong-a's dream - Koo Jeong

Broadway Musicals - Christian Marclay

Attitudine Diplomatica - Hermann Pitz

Relatum (Iron Plate and Stone) - Lee Ufan

Monumento all'agricoltura 1969-70 - Alighiero Boetti

Unrealized Projects - Jonas Meckas

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W4996
30.08.2012
Chinese American Flag - Maarten Daudeij
WWW
(Working) Title: Chinese American Flag Artist: Maarten Daudeij (The Netherlands, Australia) Year of origination of idea: 2011 Concept: To wave a large size flag of which the design is a collage of the Chinese and the American Flag on top of the Museum ...
(Working) Title: Chinese American Flag Artist: Maarten Daudeij (The Netherlands, Australia) Year of origination of idea: 2011 Concept: To wave a large size flag of which the design is a collage of the Chinese and the American Flag on top of the Museum ...
W3529
11.05.2011
Babylon Dictionary – A spoken sounds Dictionary - Nitsan David Hamerman
WWW
Babylon Dictionary – A spoken sounds Dictionary The work “Babylon Dictionary” engages in locating areas of misunderstanding between languages. Not like any other dictionary, Babylon Dictionary mach between two (or more) different meaning of the s ...
Babylon Dictionary – A spoken sounds Dictionary The work “Babylon Dictionary” engages in locating areas of misunderstanding between languages. Not like any other dictionary, Babylon Dictionary mach between two (or more) different meaning of the s ...
W4673
26.05.2011
A room with a view - amalia caputo
WWW
A room with a view”, 2011 By Amalia Caputo BRIEF DESCRIPTION “A room with a view” is a project for an installation/temporary or permanent exhibition that deals with the physical inversion as an interaction/ direct experience with general pub ...
A room with a view”, 2011 By Amalia Caputo BRIEF DESCRIPTION “A room with a view” is a project for an installation/temporary or permanent exhibition that deals with the physical inversion as an interaction/ direct experience with general pub ...
W4610
25.05.2011
Flags of Empire - Dread Scott
WWW
Flags of Empire would be a circle of flagpoles each flying a flag of a past or present empire. The flags are from the following countries: Japan, Spain (17th century flag), Nazi Germany, France, Rome (vexillum from the ancient Roman Empire), Russia, Otto ...
Flags of Empire would be a circle of flagpoles each flying a flag of a past or present empire. The flags are from the following countries: Japan, Spain (17th century flag), Nazi Germany, France, Rome (vexillum from the ancient Roman Empire), Russia, Otto ...
W3715
17.05.2011
Deck Chair Gateway
 Proposal
 for 
Broward 
County, 
FL
 - Mags Harries & Lajos Héder
WWW
Increasingly, large‐scale buildings isolate surrounding neighborhoods from Broward County’s coast. An iconic gateway could reconnect the community to the water. DeckChair Gateway will rise up 14 Ft, offering a shaded passageway to the beach and a land ...
Increasingly, large‐scale buildings isolate surrounding neighborhoods from Broward County’s coast. An iconic gateway could reconnect the community to the water. DeckChair Gateway will rise up 14 Ft, offering a shaded passageway to the beach and a land ...
W4487
25.05.2011
lori brown
WWW
The wificommune is a retro-fitted environmentally sustainable bus providing social services for the Seneca Nation communities in Upstate New York. Using solar power as a source of energy, this bus is designed to provide internet connections, a classroom ...
The wificommune is a retro-fitted environmentally sustainable bus providing social services for the Seneca Nation communities in Upstate New York. Using solar power as a source of energy, this bus is designed to provide internet connections, a classroom ...
W5028
31.08.2012
100 Minutes from the Lives of Shadows - János Xantus
WWW
'100 Minutes from the Lives of Shadows' A film of characters who are ignorent of being characters of a film. Except one of them... This "l'art pour l'art screenplay" was written by my friend Jean-Daniel Magnin and myself some twenty years ago. 1 ...
'100 Minutes from the Lives of Shadows' A film of characters who are ignorent of being characters of a film. Except one of them... This "l'art pour l'art screenplay" was written by my friend Jean-Daniel Magnin and myself some twenty years ago. 1 ...
W3650
15.05.2011
Justyn Zolli
WWW
These are two unrealized designs are for large stained glass windows. The designs is variable in scale, and the windows would make use of specialized glass such as lenses, roundel disks, and mouth-blown antique glass. This photo is derived from a maquette ...
These are two unrealized designs are for large stained glass windows. The designs is variable in scale, and the windows would make use of specialized glass such as lenses, roundel disks, and mouth-blown antique glass. This photo is derived from a maquette ...
W5275
15.10.2012
You, Are Not You, You Are Me…No Shit - Beth Emily Richards
WWW
You, Are Not You, You Are Me…No Shit Beth Emily Richards www.bethemilyrichards.com All the Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonators in the world race each other on a military air assault obstacle course. The Arnie impersonator that comes last in the rou ...
You, Are Not You, You Are Me…No Shit Beth Emily Richards www.bethemilyrichards.com All the Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonators in the world race each other on a military air assault obstacle course. The Arnie impersonator that comes last in the rou ...
W4745
26.05.2011
Solar City Tower for Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics - Rafael Schmidt, RAFAA
WWW
International Architecture Competition for the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. „The project under consideration should be located in the bay of the city of Rio de Janeiro on the Cotonduba Island, which is the obligatory approach for aircraft la ...
International Architecture Competition for the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. „The project under consideration should be located in the bay of the city of Rio de Janeiro on the Cotonduba Island, which is the obligatory approach for aircraft la ...
W4497
25.05.2011
“Oil spill La Fenice” - KilMor Prod.
WWW
“Oil spill La Fenice” by KilMor Prod. La Fenice Teatro La Fenice is the biggest opera house in Venice, Italy and one of the most famous theatres in Europe. “La Fenice” means “The Phoenix”. A phoenix is a mythical bird that is a fire spir ...
“Oil spill La Fenice” by KilMor Prod. La Fenice Teatro La Fenice is the biggest opera house in Venice, Italy and one of the most famous theatres in Europe. “La Fenice” means “The Phoenix”. A phoenix is a mythical bird that is a fire spir ...
W3642
15.05.2011
cara judea alhadeff
WWW
Since the early 90s, my photographs have been publicly defended by freedom of speech organizations such as artsave/People for the American Way, the Electronic Freedom Foundation, and the ACLU. By witnessing first hand people's reactionary tendencies and ...
Since the early 90s, my photographs have been publicly defended by freedom of speech organizations such as artsave/People for the American Way, the Electronic Freedom Foundation, and the ACLU. By witnessing first hand people's reactionary tendencies and ...
W4708
26.05.2011
Pool Sweep - Lisa Hein
WWW
POOL SWEEP Proposal for a Polluted River 2004 A kidney-shaped pool rim floats in an eddy of the Housatonic River. The pool has no bottom; the river fills it. Inside this enclosure, an animated buoy chugs about, trailing strings of floats ...
POOL SWEEP Proposal for a Polluted River 2004 A kidney-shaped pool rim floats in an eddy of the Housatonic River. The pool has no bottom; the river fills it. Inside this enclosure, an animated buoy chugs about, trailing strings of floats ...
W4202
24.05.2011
The Eisenstein Project - janet hodgson
WWW
BATH SPA STATION - DAY A trolley with high wire-mesh sides stands on the platform, and propped inside is a crate - it’s big enough to contain an adult but doesn’t look like a coffin. A large consignment note is pasted on to it. It’s in Russian: an ...
BATH SPA STATION - DAY A trolley with high wire-mesh sides stands on the platform, and propped inside is a crate - it’s big enough to contain an adult but doesn’t look like a coffin. A large consignment note is pasted on to it. It’s in Russian: an ...
W5369
19.10.2012
University of Toledo
Centennial Mall Legacy - Stephen Canneto
WWW
Progney, Competition winning proposal the the University of Toledo, Ohio's public art program. Progeny is inspired by the University of Toledo’s Legacy program. The sculpture’s site engendered forms, materials, location and functions reflect the U ...
Progney, Competition winning proposal the the University of Toledo, Ohio's public art program. Progeny is inspired by the University of Toledo’s Legacy program. The sculpture’s site engendered forms, materials, location and functions reflect the U ...
W3577
13.05.2011
DIMENSIONS VARIABLE: a proposal 07.2010! - Raul J Mendez
WWW
CONTEXT My work reads as a reconciliation of opposites between the private and the public. In other words, it is a codified puzzle of images that continues to grow and develop, drawing from my personal experience as well as from the public domain. There ...
CONTEXT My work reads as a reconciliation of opposites between the private and the public. In other words, it is a codified puzzle of images that continues to grow and develop, drawing from my personal experience as well as from the public domain. There ...
W3661
15.05.2011
Efrat Kedem
WWW
Project description All over the world there are bus stops, They serves us as buildings for a fleeting moment, a man passes them and wait some time before the bus arrives, then, continues on his way, We stand or sit in stations for a few minutes, some ...
Project description All over the world there are bus stops, They serves us as buildings for a fleeting moment, a man passes them and wait some time before the bus arrives, then, continues on his way, We stand or sit in stations for a few minutes, some ...
W3509
11.05.2011
I gave you this picture because I was afraid you might forget me - Yvonne O'Reilly
WWW
CORNERHOUSE MICRO COMMISSIONS - (a site specific proposal) 'I gave you this picture because I was afraid you might forget me.' About your idea: What is your idea? The location – the CORNERHOUSE would provide me with the opportunity to create a ...
CORNERHOUSE MICRO COMMISSIONS - (a site specific proposal) 'I gave you this picture because I was afraid you might forget me.' About your idea: What is your idea? The location – the CORNERHOUSE would provide me with the opportunity to create a ...
W5363
19.10.2012
A Constructivist Artifact for Mourning the Weekdays - Inbal Strauss
WWW
These sketches for a sculpture titled A Constructivist Artifact for Mourning the Weekdays, remain as a two dimensional proposal for the time being. As a sculptor, I use investigative sketching as a creative development tool for a sculpture that will event ...
These sketches for a sculpture titled A Constructivist Artifact for Mourning the Weekdays, remain as a two dimensional proposal for the time being. As a sculptor, I use investigative sketching as a creative development tool for a sculpture that will event ...
W3869
19.05.2011
Michal Murin
WWW
Michal Murin: Museum of Contemporary Art in My Signature, 2003 Concept: Michal Murin, 2002 Realized by: HNZL s.r.o., Bratislava, Slovakia, 2003 Realized in 3D VR by: Stanislav Veselovský, Richard Kitta, Michal Murin, 2009 ...
Michal Murin: Museum of Contemporary Art in My Signature, 2003 Concept: Michal Murin, 2002 Realized by: HNZL s.r.o., Bratislava, Slovakia, 2003 Realized in 3D VR by: Stanislav Veselovský, Richard Kitta, Michal Murin, 2009 ...
W4705
26.05.2011
CORONA (Socket Set) - Lisa Hein
WWW
CORONA (Socket Set) is a temporary installation for an existing pair of lanterns. The first lantern functions normally, but has a swarm of empty light sockets covering its glass. The second lantern looks burnt out because the inside of its glass panels ...
CORONA (Socket Set) is a temporary installation for an existing pair of lanterns. The first lantern functions normally, but has a swarm of empty light sockets covering its glass. The second lantern looks burnt out because the inside of its glass panels ...
W4573
25.05.2011
Emily Puthoff
WWW
W4300
24.05.2011
Laundry Line - zavick botha
WWW
Washing clothes and laundry lines are common day to day images of human activity throughout most of the world. Although in Western society something so ordinary now takes place behind closed doors. Some people use clothes to express their identity, in oth ...
Washing clothes and laundry lines are common day to day images of human activity throughout most of the world. Although in Western society something so ordinary now takes place behind closed doors. Some people use clothes to express their identity, in oth ...
W4574
25.05.2011
Flatten The Mountain Projects - Flatten The Mountain Projects
WWW
A: I liked the film idea initially. B: I'm glad you think the same. We can't sound desperate - I'm going to bed. A: Instead of a Birthday it should be a wedding where we marry together Loverage and Twice Born B: People watching us make work puts me a ...
A: I liked the film idea initially. B: I'm glad you think the same. We can't sound desperate - I'm going to bed. A: Instead of a Birthday it should be a wedding where we marry together Loverage and Twice Born B: People watching us make work puts me a ...
W4028
22.05.2011
The width of a grin - Matthew Geller
WWW
Proposal for a temporary public artwork on West San Fernando Street under the Highway 87 overpass and over the Guadalupe River, San Jose, CA It takes about 68 seconds to cross under Highway 87 and over the Guadalupe River while walking on West San Fern ...
Proposal for a temporary public artwork on West San Fernando Street under the Highway 87 overpass and over the Guadalupe River, San Jose, CA It takes about 68 seconds to cross under Highway 87 and over the Guadalupe River while walking on West San Fern ...
W4611
25.05.2011
Prototype of an opportunistic monument or a monument on call - Sylvie Boisseau
WWW
Prototype of an opportunistic monument or a monument on call (in memory of the Stasi* victims) The monument consist of an orthogonal concrete block of 200 x 150 x 50 cm which is embedded under the ground, It should be erected at places where the orig ...
Prototype of an opportunistic monument or a monument on call (in memory of the Stasi* victims) The monument consist of an orthogonal concrete block of 200 x 150 x 50 cm which is embedded under the ground, It should be erected at places where the orig ...