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.

PROJEKT - Ulrich Rückreim

My House - Uri Tzaig

Merci, Thank you, Danke: Les 2 sujets  - Thomas Hirschorn

Uncompleted 1966 - and on  - John Armleder

Projets non réalisés: - Daniel Buren

Progetto per Gerry Schum - Guiseppe Penone

A House of Dust - Alison Knowles

Monument to Democracy - Kounellis

CIVITAS Stadtpostkarten - Lothar Baumgarten

NON REALIZED PROJECTS - Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W3735
18.05.2011
Revelation - Felippe Moraes
WWW
The installation “Revelation” consisits in a room where everything is White and with a White marble sand in the floor. A white peacock inhabits the room where it can freely walk over the furniture, the objects and those continuously mod ...
The installation “Revelation” consisits in a room where everything is White and with a White marble sand in the floor. A white peacock inhabits the room where it can freely walk over the furniture, the objects and those continuously mod ...
W4572
25.05.2011
My Sunshine - Nikola Uzunovski
WWW
My Sunshine is a utopian project, suspended between art and science, visionary ideas and social issues, poetry and hyper - technology. Its aim is to produce a flying object that reflects sunlight to a specific area of Earth and appear as the Sun itself. ...
My Sunshine is a utopian project, suspended between art and science, visionary ideas and social issues, poetry and hyper - technology. Its aim is to produce a flying object that reflects sunlight to a specific area of Earth and appear as the Sun itself. ...
W5431
20.10.2012
Clizia Cortese
WWW
Project 1 – It was the original idea…a new “dress” for my cutlery… a new grip for a knife, a fork, a spoon, which are not very changed in their functional part ( taking food!) but exactly in their grip! It doesn’t seem comfortable at first gla ...
Project 1 – It was the original idea…a new “dress” for my cutlery… a new grip for a knife, a fork, a spoon, which are not very changed in their functional part ( taking food!) but exactly in their grip! It doesn’t seem comfortable at first gla ...
W3912
20.05.2011
"Blue Plaque Portraits" [Working Title] - Jill Chong
WWW
Dear Resident of __________________________________, My name is Jill Chong and I am a second year student of fine art at Goldsmiths College. I am writing to you because I am currently doing a project based on English Heritage’s Blue Plaques scheme. M ...
Dear Resident of __________________________________, My name is Jill Chong and I am a second year student of fine art at Goldsmiths College. I am writing to you because I am currently doing a project based on English Heritage’s Blue Plaques scheme. M ...
W5395
20.10.2012
Frontier Monument - Kasper Kovitz
WWW
"I love those who do not wish to preserve themselves; the down-going ones do I love with mine entire love, for they go beyond" Frontier Monument (alternative title: Witchbunker) is the second in a series of public monuments on which I have been ...
"I love those who do not wish to preserve themselves; the down-going ones do I love with mine entire love, for they go beyond" Frontier Monument (alternative title: Witchbunker) is the second in a series of public monuments on which I have been ...
W5098
13.09.2012
we love live - Copa & Sordes
WWW
we love live an idea for an ornament in public space ...
we love live an idea for an ornament in public space ...
W4422
25.05.2011
Drew Denny
WWW
After being diagnosed with a deadly brain tumor, I designed this architectural rendering for my brain as a house. I would construct an installation of my Brain House so that I might lead audiences through it as I perform my memories, fantasies, dreams ...
After being diagnosed with a deadly brain tumor, I designed this architectural rendering for my brain as a house. I would construct an installation of my Brain House so that I might lead audiences through it as I perform my memories, fantasies, dreams ...
W4307
24.05.2011
The War Of The Worlds (South Africa) - James Webb
WWW
The War Of The Worlds (South Africa) I have been developing the following unrealised project: to create a radio announcement that takes Orson Welles’s infamous 1938 broadcast, “The War Of The Worlds,” as a starting point, re-imagining the concept ...
The War Of The Worlds (South Africa) I have been developing the following unrealised project: to create a radio announcement that takes Orson Welles’s infamous 1938 broadcast, “The War Of The Worlds,” as a starting point, re-imagining the concept ...
W4201
24.05.2011
Roger Hiorns
WWW
Section one, presents a communication to the people of Tuckerton NJ and in turn the people of NY. Section Two, I was asked to propose for the latest round of Fourth plinth installations. ...
Section one, presents a communication to the people of Tuckerton NJ and in turn the people of NY. Section Two, I was asked to propose for the latest round of Fourth plinth installations. ...
W5161
24.09.2012
BIO for Viscera Film Festival - Jasmine Hirst
WWW
Jasmine Hirst: BIO for Viscera Film Festival New York underground artist Jasmine Hirst's ten-year correspondence with serial killer Aileen Wuornos leads to an intimate and mesmerizing interview on Florida's death row. In 1993 I saw Aileen’s photogr ...
Jasmine Hirst: BIO for Viscera Film Festival New York underground artist Jasmine Hirst's ten-year correspondence with serial killer Aileen Wuornos leads to an intimate and mesmerizing interview on Florida's death row. In 1993 I saw Aileen’s photogr ...
W5123
18.09.2012
Transit/Stasis - Danielle Giudici Wallis
WWW
A proposal for the entrance of the San Francisco Public Library based on the Principle of Least Effort (George Kingsley Zipf, 1949) Transit/Stasis As I emerged from the BART station, I was taken with the sight of a commuter who opted to walk up the ...
A proposal for the entrance of the San Francisco Public Library based on the Principle of Least Effort (George Kingsley Zipf, 1949) Transit/Stasis As I emerged from the BART station, I was taken with the sight of a commuter who opted to walk up the ...
W5090
10.09.2012
Glass Drummers Pavilion - Olivia Booth
WWW
Call for Unrealized Projects Olivia Booth September, 2012 oabooth@yahoo.com www.oliviabooth.net GLASS DRUMMERS PAVILION This repositionable glass drummer's pavilion is meant to latch on to the ground level of any international style ...
Call for Unrealized Projects Olivia Booth September, 2012 oabooth@yahoo.com www.oliviabooth.net GLASS DRUMMERS PAVILION This repositionable glass drummer's pavilion is meant to latch on to the ground level of any international style ...
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 ...
W5309
17.10.2012
Believe Me, It’s not for Real - NaoKo TakaHashi
WWW
This project is to dress the entire serpentine Gallery in circus tents and invite visitors to be hypnotised to experience a false memory. Description: This project is to dress the entire serpentine Gallery in circus tents and invite visitors to be hyp ...
This project is to dress the entire serpentine Gallery in circus tents and invite visitors to be hypnotised to experience a false memory. Description: This project is to dress the entire serpentine Gallery in circus tents and invite visitors to be hyp ...
W4154
23.05.2011
Talk to the Other Side - KOLEKTIVA
WWW
Talk to the Other Side Unrealized project in public space by KOLEKTIVA (Vesna Bukovec, Lada Cerar, Metka Zupanič) The idea for the project was developed during the Editing residency in Gorizia at the border between Italy and Slovenia. The initial ...
Talk to the Other Side Unrealized project in public space by KOLEKTIVA (Vesna Bukovec, Lada Cerar, Metka Zupanič) The idea for the project was developed during the Editing residency in Gorizia at the border between Italy and Slovenia. The initial ...
W5484
22.10.2012
Missile images - Paul Nulty
WWW
To propose to make a series of photographs made at scheduled demonstrations at the Saab Borfors systems field site in Karlskoga Sweden. Images are to show ground to air missiles such as the RBS 70 and recent RBS 70NG being demonstrated and tested in a ...
To propose to make a series of photographs made at scheduled demonstrations at the Saab Borfors systems field site in Karlskoga Sweden. Images are to show ground to air missiles such as the RBS 70 and recent RBS 70NG being demonstrated and tested in a ...
W4618
25.05.2011
L’Auditorium A,  - DEHOVE Claire
WWW
L’Auditorium A, Dans sa proximité se construit aujourd’hui l’un des derniers tronçons autorou- tiers. Si cette construction a défiguré le paysage naturel en laissant des cicatrices indélébiles dans la terre et la végétation, si elle a occa ...
L’Auditorium A, Dans sa proximité se construit aujourd’hui l’un des derniers tronçons autorou- tiers. Si cette construction a défiguré le paysage naturel en laissant des cicatrices indélébiles dans la terre et la végétation, si elle a occa ...
U9918
01.01.1994
Eight Days a Week - Joe Scanlan
Unbuilt Roads
In 1994, after several years of studying the history of calendars and their basis in the solar system, I designed a new calendar that was more "in tune" with my personal rhythms. Although it contained the same 365 days, the calendar was divided into 15 In ...
In 1994, after several years of studying the history of calendars and their basis in the solar system, I designed a new calendar that was more "in tune" with my personal rhythms. Although it contained the same 365 days, the calendar was divided into 15 In ...
W4686
26.05.2011
1. Corners from "The New York Times" front page. - Linda Stillman
WWW
Unrealized projects 1. Corners from "The New York Times" front page. I have been tearing and storing a piece of paper, the capsule weather report, from "The New York Times" for years. I once made a wall installation with a year of these corners (see ph ...
Unrealized projects 1. Corners from "The New York Times" front page. I have been tearing and storing a piece of paper, the capsule weather report, from "The New York Times" for years. I once made a wall installation with a year of these corners (see ph ...
W4639
25.05.2011
Steve Kado
WWW
In March 2007 I was the artist in residence at the Department of Safety in Anacortes, WA, USA. Anacortes is a really small town. Partially out of frustration with me, my big city ways & my de-skilled & "post-conceptual" approach to the art task OLIVER ORI ...
In March 2007 I was the artist in residence at the Department of Safety in Anacortes, WA, USA. Anacortes is a really small town. Partially out of frustration with me, my big city ways & my de-skilled & "post-conceptual" approach to the art task OLIVER ORI ...
U9807
01.01.1997
Cruzeiro Do Sul, (Southern Cross) (Crucero del Sur) 1969-70* - Cildo Meireles
Unbuilt Roads
A cube with a side measurement of 9 mm, consisting of two transverse sections: one of pine and the other of oak, trees that represented mythical beings in the cosmology of the Tupi Indians, beings whose correlation (mistakenly interpreted by the Jesuits a ...
A cube with a side measurement of 9 mm, consisting of two transverse sections: one of pine and the other of oak, trees that represented mythical beings in the cosmology of the Tupi Indians, beings whose correlation (mistakenly interpreted by the Jesuits a ...
W3533
11.05.2011
The Pagoda - Michael Jantzen
WWW
Would be made from sustainably grown Western Red Cedar wood. Approximately twenty one feet wide, fifteen feet deep, and eighteen feet tall. ...
Would be made from sustainably grown Western Red Cedar wood. Approximately twenty one feet wide, fifteen feet deep, and eighteen feet tall. ...
W3620
14.05.2011
GORGES - JACQUELINE BELOTTI
WWW
“The lift is the most widely used means of transport in big cities. The metal box illuminated, panel with buttons and, in some cases, a mirror, gives the vertical displacement in a very simple way, and requires us to share our living space with stranger ...
“The lift is the most widely used means of transport in big cities. The metal box illuminated, panel with buttons and, in some cases, a mirror, gives the vertical displacement in a very simple way, and requires us to share our living space with stranger ...
W5392
20.10.2012
Pieterjan Grandry
WWW
Absence stimulates the need for completion and the design of these ideas is what makes the intangible absent concrete. Talking about absence in an urban spot (the incomplete tower of Antwerp’s cathedral), one might think of utopia. Utopia is the non-pla ...
Absence stimulates the need for completion and the design of these ideas is what makes the intangible absent concrete. Talking about absence in an urban spot (the incomplete tower of Antwerp’s cathedral), one might think of utopia. Utopia is the non-pla ...
W4877
09.08.2012
Dream Vessels - Beth Surdut
WWW
You may find my Dream Vessels Project at http://www.bethsurdut.com/dreamvesselsproject.htm When I posted the concept in 2007, artists and engineers contacted me expecting or hoping that I would provide funding, which is not the case. I hope. ...
You may find my Dream Vessels Project at http://www.bethsurdut.com/dreamvesselsproject.htm When I posted the concept in 2007, artists and engineers contacted me expecting or hoping that I would provide funding, which is not the case. I hope. ...
W4309
24.05.2011
“Face2 eyes spin” - dineo seshee bopape
WWW
“Face2 eyes spin” is a 4 seconds video sketch- without sound, of a face whirling in itself….almost like a rabbit hole of sorts…the beginning of something…sketch was made for inclusion in a video, it was supposed to have been part of a bigger vid ...
“Face2 eyes spin” is a 4 seconds video sketch- without sound, of a face whirling in itself….almost like a rabbit hole of sorts…the beginning of something…sketch was made for inclusion in a video, it was supposed to have been part of a bigger vid ...