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.

Financial Times Millennium Bridge Competition - Richard Serra and Frank Gehry

Social Resource Project For the Munich Olympics - Stephen Willats

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

Prima del 73 - Fabio Mauri

Nicht realisierte Projekte - Stefan Demary

Projekt für die Landschaft des Mont-de-Sene (Burgund) im Rahmen eines öffentlichen Auftrags des französischen Kultusministeriums - Markus Raetz

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

No title, as the project only reached proposal stage - Rikrit Tiravanija

Museum - Katharina Fritsch

Temple of the western buddha (1971 Kathmedu) - Herman de Vries

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W4323
24.05.2011
MAD HATTER’S WORKSHOP  - Valery Koroshilov
WWW
MAD HATTER’S WORKSHOP The Concept Observing Lowry’s paintings I have noticed his people very often wear hats. I went on to address this theme. A hat, a helmet, a beret, a cap, a scarf, a hood, a crown. What are the messages they convey today i ...
MAD HATTER’S WORKSHOP The Concept Observing Lowry’s paintings I have noticed his people very often wear hats. I went on to address this theme. A hat, a helmet, a beret, a cap, a scarf, a hood, a crown. What are the messages they convey today i ...
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 ...
W5238
09.10.2012
Nicole De Brabandere
WWW
AUP - Berliner Künstlerprogramm/ DAAD Nicole De Brabandere In 2009 I put in motion the possibility of amassing all of the doorknobs from an institutional building that was slated for demolition. After many phone calls to various authorities I disco ...
AUP - Berliner Künstlerprogramm/ DAAD Nicole De Brabandere In 2009 I put in motion the possibility of amassing all of the doorknobs from an institutional building that was slated for demolition. After many phone calls to various authorities I disco ...
W4259
24.05.2011
Why leave the shelter? - Arcady Kotler
WWW
Why leave the shelter? (The Tale of the construction of my shell) I don’t even remember when construction of the shelter started, but it happened somehow unnoticeably. When I was young it was nothing like a fortress, but just big opened space with e ...
Why leave the shelter? (The Tale of the construction of my shell) I don’t even remember when construction of the shelter started, but it happened somehow unnoticeably. When I was young it was nothing like a fortress, but just big opened space with e ...
W4078
23.05.2011
Infinity and Tipi - Kasia Ozga
WWW
2 site-specific environmental art proposals in wicker: Infinity and Tipi I am proposing two different projects for and international residency in 2010. The first piece, entitled Infinity, will be a permanent work installed and braided on site by loc ...
2 site-specific environmental art proposals in wicker: Infinity and Tipi I am proposing two different projects for and international residency in 2010. The first piece, entitled Infinity, will be a permanent work installed and braided on site by loc ...
W4114
23.05.2011
“Mother Teresa” - Helidon Gjergji
WWW
TIRANA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT “Mother Teresa” The Tirana International Airport “Mother Teresa” was recently inaugurated, and is quite an impressive piece of contemporary architecture in which locals take great pride. At the same time, what is m ...
TIRANA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT “Mother Teresa” The Tirana International Airport “Mother Teresa” was recently inaugurated, and is quite an impressive piece of contemporary architecture in which locals take great pride. At the same time, what is m ...
W3938
20.05.2011
LETTER OF INTEREST for “Art Mediator” - Verina Gfader
WWW
The attached letter bears witness to a mail exchange following the Manifesta 8 (in the region of Murcia, Spain) announcement and job vacancies within education there. The proposal tries to create a space of uncertainty for the Manifesta organisers. ...
The attached letter bears witness to a mail exchange following the Manifesta 8 (in the region of Murcia, Spain) announcement and job vacancies within education there. The proposal tries to create a space of uncertainty for the Manifesta organisers. ...
W4378
25.05.2011
Proposal for the Sox/35th Street Station, Dan Ryan Branch Red Line - Kristin Jones / Andrew Ginzel
WWW
Proposal for the Sox/35th Street Station, Dan Ryan Branch Red Line We seek to create a new work that is dynamically integrated into the environment of the Sox/35th Street Station. The proposed work celebrates the spirit and vitality of the station e ...
Proposal for the Sox/35th Street Station, Dan Ryan Branch Red Line We seek to create a new work that is dynamically integrated into the environment of the Sox/35th Street Station. The proposed work celebrates the spirit and vitality of the station e ...
W3504
11.05.2011
Global Culture - ALBERTO LICANDRO
WWW
Image 1: 1000mt highrise tower on 1 column with 52 steel cables around its supporting structure visible from street level to 500mt up, where the first of its 68 floors for restaurant space (20 floors), office space (30 floors) and living space (18 floors) ...
Image 1: 1000mt highrise tower on 1 column with 52 steel cables around its supporting structure visible from street level to 500mt up, where the first of its 68 floors for restaurant space (20 floors), office space (30 floors) and living space (18 floors) ...
W4230
24.05.2011
Monument for bridges. - Dico Kruijsse
WWW
Monument for bridges. Visuals of a monumental sculpture to be made out of the remains of two countryside bridges. A road of about 20 kilometres long was rebuild. Therefore as much as 50 bridges accessing the farmlands where taken apart and demolished. ...
Monument for bridges. Visuals of a monumental sculpture to be made out of the remains of two countryside bridges. A road of about 20 kilometres long was rebuild. Therefore as much as 50 bridges accessing the farmlands where taken apart and demolished. ...
W4221
24.05.2011
alhena
WWW
W5272
14.10.2012
The Impossible Collection, Radio-made, and Vertical Reading - Georgi Gospodinov
WWW
Georgi Gospodinov 3 projects The Impossible Collection A gallery. Eight absolutely empty glass cubes (window displays) closed from each side, just with captions beneath, in the following order: apples – shrivel, rot cheese – begins to smell bad clouds ...
Georgi Gospodinov 3 projects The Impossible Collection A gallery. Eight absolutely empty glass cubes (window displays) closed from each side, just with captions beneath, in the following order: apples – shrivel, rot cheese – begins to smell bad clouds ...
W4599
25.05.2011
Oh Buck, horse heartbreak - Bethany Fancher
WWW
Oh Buck, horse heartbreak Posted by Bethany Jean at 6/11/2008 11:43 AM Categories: horse travel Well, circumstances don't provide enough time for Buck to feel ok being in a trailer. Karin's job ended early and it is time to go. Buck is staying on the ...
Oh Buck, horse heartbreak Posted by Bethany Jean at 6/11/2008 11:43 AM Categories: horse travel Well, circumstances don't provide enough time for Buck to feel ok being in a trailer. Karin's job ended early and it is time to go. Buck is staying on the ...
W3997
21.05.2011
Survival is a Crime - Jana Leo De Blas
WWW
S.I.C. "Survival is a Crime" is a picture sequence that draws a trajectory through an apartment building, the staircase, the hallways, the inside of the apartment, the furniture, some objects, a comforter, and inside the inhabitant, a woman. The total ...
S.I.C. "Survival is a Crime" is a picture sequence that draws a trajectory through an apartment building, the staircase, the hallways, the inside of the apartment, the furniture, some objects, a comforter, and inside the inhabitant, a woman. The total ...
W3683
16.05.2011
Mumfordshire - A Megalopolis - Bruce Asbestos
WWW
Mumfordshire is unrealised plan for a megalopolis (a series of interconnected urban areas), which seeks to re-imagine a complex but positive future of mega-cities and society. Mumfordshire is partly based on revising Lewis Mumford’s idea that the Roman ...
Mumfordshire is unrealised plan for a megalopolis (a series of interconnected urban areas), which seeks to re-imagine a complex but positive future of mega-cities and society. Mumfordshire is partly based on revising Lewis Mumford’s idea that the Roman ...
W3553
12.05.2011
Maskbook - MAP Office [Gutierrez + Portefaix]
WWW
"Conceived as a sardonic take on the popular social networking website Facebook, www.makbook.net, intends to provide avatars in virtual worlds such as Second Life with a network of their virtual identities. The logic of Maskbook is derived from the seemin ...
"Conceived as a sardonic take on the popular social networking website Facebook, www.makbook.net, intends to provide avatars in virtual worlds such as Second Life with a network of their virtual identities. The logic of Maskbook is derived from the seemin ...
W5411
20.10.2012
Jessica Miller
WWW
I have created a proposal outlining a beautification project beginning in the city of Atlanta. Participants in the agenda sign up to receive locations of seed bomb caches. They can then distribute the seed bombs and log the locations of the bombing.... ...
I have created a proposal outlining a beautification project beginning in the city of Atlanta. Participants in the agenda sign up to receive locations of seed bomb caches. They can then distribute the seed bombs and log the locations of the bombing.... ...
W5356
19.10.2012
german ramirez
WWW
At the moment I am working on a project which relates Nature and Religion. Are they complementary? Do they share common roots? Do they justify one another. Is one consequence of the other? I use photography to manipulate images confronting human beliefs. ...
At the moment I am working on a project which relates Nature and Religion. Are they complementary? Do they share common roots? Do they justify one another. Is one consequence of the other? I use photography to manipulate images confronting human beliefs. ...
W5047
03.09.2012
Eulogy for Cheng Beiho  - Robert Linsley
WWW
Unfinished text of the late nineties, intended as one of a group of short stories as and about art. This one is an imagined future eulogy (dated maybe 2020) for an artist of the New China Avant-garde. Eulogy for Cheng Beiho I'll never forget my days ...
Unfinished text of the late nineties, intended as one of a group of short stories as and about art. This one is an imagined future eulogy (dated maybe 2020) for an artist of the New China Avant-garde. Eulogy for Cheng Beiho I'll never forget my days ...
U9543
01.01.1974
Aus: Katalog 'Kunst bleibt Kunst' - Hans Peter Feldman
Unbuilt Roads
Während der Ausstellung sollten in drei Kölner Tageszeitungen in jeweils drei Ausgaben ein bis zwei Bilder erscheinen. Diese Bilder sollten an beliebiger Stelle des redaktionellen Teils stehen und keinerlei Beziehungen zu sie umgebenden Texten oder ande ...
Während der Ausstellung sollten in drei Kölner Tageszeitungen in jeweils drei Ausgaben ein bis zwei Bilder erscheinen. Diese Bilder sollten an beliebiger Stelle des redaktionellen Teils stehen und keinerlei Beziehungen zu sie umgebenden Texten oder ande ...
W3775
18.05.2011
Repo Jet’ - Caitlin Berrigan
WWW
Archive of Unrealized Projects 18 May 2011 Dear AUP: I hope you will consider including ‘Repo Jet’ in your Archive of Unrealized Projects. Although I currently lack (and am seeking) the resources to complete it, the project is within the realms of r ...
Archive of Unrealized Projects 18 May 2011 Dear AUP: I hope you will consider including ‘Repo Jet’ in your Archive of Unrealized Projects. Although I currently lack (and am seeking) the resources to complete it, the project is within the realms of r ...
W4764
28.05.2011
Juliana BIttencourt
WWW
I would like to ask if I still can submit my project. It was part of an exhibition en Brazil of unrealized projects. http://projetosnatemporada.org/en/ The curators told me about this site but I´m afraid is to late. Thanks a lot, Juliana Bittencourt ...
I would like to ask if I still can submit my project. It was part of an exhibition en Brazil of unrealized projects. http://projetosnatemporada.org/en/ The curators told me about this site but I´m afraid is to late. Thanks a lot, Juliana Bittencourt ...
W4893
10.08.2012
Ben Sloat
WWW
A chrome machine with cut out letters is in constant production of the word "sorry." Made of smoke, the word lingers for a moment, then quickly dissipates. ...
A chrome machine with cut out letters is in constant production of the word "sorry." Made of smoke, the word lingers for a moment, then quickly dissipates. ...
W4580
25.05.2011
Map of Incomplete Listing of Uninhabited Islands of the World - Katrina Moorhead
WWW
Map of Incomplete Listing of Uninhabited Islands of the World, April 2009, 2009 Archival digital print and watercolor on watercolor paper. 30 x 49-3/4 inches Individually researched, specifically uninhabited islands are charted on a map by coordina ...
Map of Incomplete Listing of Uninhabited Islands of the World, April 2009, 2009 Archival digital print and watercolor on watercolor paper. 30 x 49-3/4 inches Individually researched, specifically uninhabited islands are charted on a map by coordina ...
W4665
25.05.2011
Kosmossinfonie Nummer 1: Magister Ludi - MomenTech
WWW
Kosmossinfonie Nummer 1: Magister Ludi unrealized project by MomenTech http://momentech.blogspot.com MomenTech’s Kosmossinfonie Nummer 1: Magister Ludi ("Symphony of the Cosmos No. 1: Master of the Game") is a proposed interactive, immersive, site-sp ...
Kosmossinfonie Nummer 1: Magister Ludi unrealized project by MomenTech http://momentech.blogspot.com MomenTech’s Kosmossinfonie Nummer 1: Magister Ludi ("Symphony of the Cosmos No. 1: Master of the Game") is a proposed interactive, immersive, site-sp ...
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 ...