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.

Just Before Dawn - David Lamelas

Post Photographic apparatus - Steven Pippin

Unrealized Projects - Jonas Meckas

Project 1 + Project 2 - Simryn Gill

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

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

NON REALIZED PROJECTS - Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Project for the Initiative Mahnmal Homosexuellenverfolgung, Frankfurt  - Jeff Wall

Unbetitelt, Gänse-Projekt + Noch unbetitelt , " Durch den Mund sehen " + Kartoffeln  - Carsten Holler

Museum - Katharina Fritsch

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W5393
20.10.2012
Nursery - Ismini Chacholiadou
WWW
photographic series “Nursery” This series of photographs began as a project where Ismini Haholiadou was exploring different trajectories in her practice. Where she previously set up spaces and scenes to photograph, in this project she scouted for ...
photographic series “Nursery” This series of photographs began as a project where Ismini Haholiadou was exploring different trajectories in her practice. Where she previously set up spaces and scenes to photograph, in this project she scouted for ...
W3834
19.05.2011
Maki Na Kamura
WWW
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 ...
W3537
11.05.2011
‘Against the fall’ - Sarah Luedemann
WWW
Project outline (Version Ia): ‘Against the fall’ consists of a fully functioning white parachute and about 300 (or more) A4 rejection letters from art students and artists worldwide, which are printed onto the parachute. The parachute as such is ...
Project outline (Version Ia): ‘Against the fall’ consists of a fully functioning white parachute and about 300 (or more) A4 rejection letters from art students and artists worldwide, which are printed onto the parachute. The parachute as such is ...
W4824
07.08.2012
1nflow - hamilton monteiro
WWW
improvisations on an idea... it is called 1nflow... ...
improvisations on an idea... it is called 1nflow... ...
W5231
08.10.2012
Trespassing - Ole Brodersen
WWW
The series “Trespassing” explores encounters between human and nature. Human-made objects are placed into a landscape, where their interactions with the natural elements are recorded. The photographer harnesses the forces of wind, currents and wave ...
The series “Trespassing” explores encounters between human and nature. Human-made objects are placed into a landscape, where their interactions with the natural elements are recorded. The photographer harnesses the forces of wind, currents and wave ...
W5263
13.10.2012
Brick Rushnik - Maria Gonchar
WWW
Rushnik or Rushnyk- Ukrainian embroidered decorative towel. In ancient times, the towel, embroidered with the relevant patterns, symbols, has been an inherent part of many ceremonies. For centuries it has the importance of figurative-symbolic significanc ...
Rushnik or Rushnyk- Ukrainian embroidered decorative towel. In ancient times, the towel, embroidered with the relevant patterns, symbols, has been an inherent part of many ceremonies. For centuries it has the importance of figurative-symbolic significanc ...
W5165
25.09.2012
A Patent Application For An Artificial Imagination - Peter Stott
WWW
A description of a method for computers to create an artificial imagination of a 3D world for typography and any other 2D shape or any conglomeration of 2D shapes, incorporating 3D meshes for the creation of architectonic visions, including animated visio ...
A description of a method for computers to create an artificial imagination of a 3D world for typography and any other 2D shape or any conglomeration of 2D shapes, incorporating 3D meshes for the creation of architectonic visions, including animated visio ...
W4195
24.05.2011
PURGATORIUM - Zoran Velimanovic
WWW
PURGATORIUM Purgatorium is a total art project with site-specific concept, which combines a contemporary visual art work with classical cultural values. The project focuses on the great and challenging theme of the Purgatory and tries to discover its mea ...
PURGATORIUM Purgatorium is a total art project with site-specific concept, which combines a contemporary visual art work with classical cultural values. The project focuses on the great and challenging theme of the Purgatory and tries to discover its mea ...
W4710
26.05.2011
Instructions to finding a future - Batya F. Kuncman
WWW
Instructions to finding a future Previously known as “Contemporary stream of consciousness: Stored data of identity as a work in progress” this project is an ongoing investigation into my individual identity as it relates to collective identity. Cul ...
Instructions to finding a future Previously known as “Contemporary stream of consciousness: Stored data of identity as a work in progress” this project is an ongoing investigation into my individual identity as it relates to collective identity. Cul ...
W4601
25.05.2011
180˚ - Magdalen Chua
WWW
In May 2010, we submitted a proposal for the use of TriSpace, a triangular-shaped gallery space at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore. TriSpace was, in the words of the Institute of Contemporary Arts, intended to be ...
In May 2010, we submitted a proposal for the use of TriSpace, a triangular-shaped gallery space at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore. TriSpace was, in the words of the Institute of Contemporary Arts, intended to be ...
W4148
23.05.2011
The Ambassadors - Cornford & Cross
WWW
The Ambassadors 2001 We were invited to submit proposals for the 2002 Liverpool Biennial. Our proposal, titled The Ambassadors, would have consisted of a set of flags of those nations with which HM Government did not maintain diplomatic relations. The ...
The Ambassadors 2001 We were invited to submit proposals for the 2002 Liverpool Biennial. Our proposal, titled The Ambassadors, would have consisted of a set of flags of those nations with which HM Government did not maintain diplomatic relations. The ...
W5469
21.10.2012
Mimicry - DAMIAN IORDANOV
WWW
Temporary Public Sculpture: Park Avenue Malls The Fund for Park Avenue and The City of New York’s Department of Parks and Recreation, Public Art Program The Park Avenue malls, on New York City’s upper eastside Mimicry unrealized project intend ...
Temporary Public Sculpture: Park Avenue Malls The Fund for Park Avenue and The City of New York’s Department of Parks and Recreation, Public Art Program The Park Avenue malls, on New York City’s upper eastside Mimicry unrealized project intend ...
W5012
30.08.2012
Stalactite Machine - Karen Lofgren
WWW
Stalactite Machine is an unrealized mechanical sculpture that was prototyped 3 times in metal and in wood over two years before being laid to rest. Karen Lofgren: Unrealized Art Project: Stalactite Machine Stalactite Machine is a sculpture that bui ...
Stalactite Machine is an unrealized mechanical sculpture that was prototyped 3 times in metal and in wood over two years before being laid to rest. Karen Lofgren: Unrealized Art Project: Stalactite Machine Stalactite Machine is a sculpture that bui ...
U9923
01.01.1993
den anonymen Tod ausstellen - Gregor Schneider
Unbuilt Roads
Ich wache auf Eine Junge Frau liegt neben mir. Das licht fällt auf ihren blassen körper. Sie at mit nicht. Ich warme sie. sie sieht wunderschön und glucklich aus. Rhydt 1995 Ein toter Mensch liegt auf dem Boden. Licht fällt auf den blassen Körp ...
Ich wache auf Eine Junge Frau liegt neben mir. Das licht fällt auf ihren blassen körper. Sie at mit nicht. Ich warme sie. sie sieht wunderschön und glucklich aus. Rhydt 1995 Ein toter Mensch liegt auf dem Boden. Licht fällt auf den blassen Körp ...
W4892
10.08.2012
Ben Sloat
WWW
A golden inflatable, each uniquely patterned, is produced in a glass case upon the viewer's initiative (stepping on a red button). The artwork very slowly inflates (3-5 minutes), then is suddenly released! It rises and flies out an above window. ...
A golden inflatable, each uniquely patterned, is produced in a glass case upon the viewer's initiative (stepping on a red button). The artwork very slowly inflates (3-5 minutes), then is suddenly released! It rises and flies out an above window. ...
W4064
23.05.2011
BACK TO BASICS - Marianne Nassuno
WWW
The Art project being presented is meant to react against the former commented ‘technologysation’ of art trend. It wants to speak and reach the Man of the street. Art Project BACK TO BASICS Bring Art back to where once it belonged Duchamp’s ...
The Art project being presented is meant to react against the former commented ‘technologysation’ of art trend. It wants to speak and reach the Man of the street. Art Project BACK TO BASICS Bring Art back to where once it belonged Duchamp’s ...
W3644
15.05.2011
Lucie Chan
WWW
I sometimes go to a library and spend an hour there finding certain books to leave cut out scraps of my old drawings, parts that I really like, s gifts. These drawings are small with short texts on them that are taken from books I own. ...
I sometimes go to a library and spend an hour there finding certain books to leave cut out scraps of my old drawings, parts that I really like, s gifts. These drawings are small with short texts on them that are taken from books I own. ...
W4054
23.05.2011
LIGHT BRIDGE
 - Bradley Pitts
WWW
Unrealized Proposal for LIGHT BRIDGE
 Bradley Pitts, 2003 Light Bridge proposes to bring sunlight from one location on the earth to another, transporting space and time. Mirrors at the source location reflect daylight to a geostationary satellite, ...
Unrealized Proposal for LIGHT BRIDGE
 Bradley Pitts, 2003 Light Bridge proposes to bring sunlight from one location on the earth to another, transporting space and time. Mirrors at the source location reflect daylight to a geostationary satellite, ...
W5153
24.09.2012
Internal Painting Valuable gift - James Eisen
WWW
Among my recent Project Internal Painting Valuable gift, I examined forms of knowledge and Power, the transference of idea to object from one work to another. These works sit within a wider strategy of enacting associative thought into form. More directly ...
Among my recent Project Internal Painting Valuable gift, I examined forms of knowledge and Power, the transference of idea to object from one work to another. These works sit within a wider strategy of enacting associative thought into form. More directly ...
W4287
24.05.2011
Struggling with the Ancestors - Charlie Lucas
WWW
Charlie Lucas (Tin Man) Struggling with the Ancestors Proposal for Vision and Vernacular Eight African American Artists in Venice Presented by American Folk Art Museum at Fondaco dei Tedeschi, June 2011 Artist Statement I create beauty from t ...
Charlie Lucas (Tin Man) Struggling with the Ancestors Proposal for Vision and Vernacular Eight African American Artists in Venice Presented by American Folk Art Museum at Fondaco dei Tedeschi, June 2011 Artist Statement I create beauty from t ...
W4658
25.05.2011
THE UNINVITED GUEST? - ELENA BAJO
WWW
THE UNINVITED GUEST? A Contrapunctual Proposal Dear Elena, Given the double or complementary nature and development of your entire project—as a book and as an exhibition—I’m assuming that the space you are referring to is understood not only ...
THE UNINVITED GUEST? A Contrapunctual Proposal Dear Elena, Given the double or complementary nature and development of your entire project—as a book and as an exhibition—I’m assuming that the space you are referring to is understood not only ...
W4314
24.05.2011
Unfinished Projects - Catarina Alexandra Costa Cubelo Morais
WWW
Unfinished Projects This project is about sound and comunication It is also about the nervous consequences that came with the repetition of the same type of sound, which at first cause a strangeness and annoyance, and then the questioning of the phen ...
Unfinished Projects This project is about sound and comunication It is also about the nervous consequences that came with the repetition of the same type of sound, which at first cause a strangeness and annoyance, and then the questioning of the phen ...
W3856
19.05.2011
THE SISTER COMPLEX - Jacob Stewart-Halevy
WWW
The Sister Complex is a film script written for captive audiences on Virgin America flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The forty minute length of the film is meant to correspond to the amount of time a traveler would have to watch their personal s ...
The Sister Complex is a film script written for captive audiences on Virgin America flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The forty minute length of the film is meant to correspond to the amount of time a traveler would have to watch their personal s ...
W4517
25.05.2011
”I did go upstairs but I didn’t see nobody but me” - Daniel Permanetter
WWW
The work is a room installation basically consisting of a live-sized Bob Dylan puppet and an old wooden staircase. The staircase will be rebuild so it appears to be frozen in a crumbling movement. The whole installation is meant to resemble the interior o ...
The work is a room installation basically consisting of a live-sized Bob Dylan puppet and an old wooden staircase. The staircase will be rebuild so it appears to be frozen in a crumbling movement. The whole installation is meant to resemble the interior o ...
W3724
17.05.2011
Sgt. Martin Tours  - Jose Luis Rojas
WWW
Sgt. Martin Tours was a sculptural project which never reached completion mainly due to lack of interest on a theme I had been working on for at least five years. Even though, the work remains "postponed" at its best, and I do regret not finishing it.. ...
Sgt. Martin Tours was a sculptural project which never reached completion mainly due to lack of interest on a theme I had been working on for at least five years. Even though, the work remains "postponed" at its best, and I do regret not finishing it.. ...