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.

Attitudine Diplomatica - Hermann Pitz

Untitled, modeled after the Leipzig Völkerschlachtdenkmal...  - Jenny Holzer

Der New-Babyloner - Constant

Project pour le parc de sculpture de Vassiviére - Paul-Armand Gette

The Clock - Ayse Erkmen

Just Before Dawn - David Lamelas

Billboard - Jimmie Durham

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

Making for Art - 100 Unsucceeded Presentation - 1995, 1996,  - Yutaka Sone

Messages to the Public - Nancy Spero

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W4374
25.05.2011
Proposal for culture (an interactive installation)  - Thessia Machado
WWW
Proposal for culture (an interactive installation) I’ve been thinking about the different ways in which organisms can perceive their environment and adapt to it — capturing and responding to either images, air vibration, or smells, sounds, flavors, ...
Proposal for culture (an interactive installation) I’ve been thinking about the different ways in which organisms can perceive their environment and adapt to it — capturing and responding to either images, air vibration, or smells, sounds, flavors, ...
W4908
13.08.2012
A collateral time. - Annalisa Furnari
WWW
A collateral time. Two videoinstallations: screening of two movies archive reprocessed in postproduction. In relation to each video, two sculptural installations: A base of white cement on where it is deposited a mat black mattress A volcanic mono ...
A collateral time. Two videoinstallations: screening of two movies archive reprocessed in postproduction. In relation to each video, two sculptural installations: A base of white cement on where it is deposited a mat black mattress A volcanic mono ...
W4833
07.08.2012
A Room for Persephone - Noa P. Kaplan
WWW
A Room for Persephone Complex beauty can be located even in spaces of hopelessness. In a dark room, you would encounter a hollow sphere with a round opening large enough to fit through. Inside, you would find soft white walls and four seed-like ...
A Room for Persephone Complex beauty can be located even in spaces of hopelessness. In a dark room, you would encounter a hollow sphere with a round opening large enough to fit through. Inside, you would find soft white walls and four seed-like ...
W5237
09.10.2012
Theater of the Heavy Clouds - Kim Miller
WWW
Theater of the Heavy Clouds ARISTOPHANES stands in makeshift toga next to table covered with multi-colored cubes. Off to side is a garment rack with glittering evening gown hanging. CHORUS' lines appear on projection screen at appropriate time behind ARIS ...
Theater of the Heavy Clouds ARISTOPHANES stands in makeshift toga next to table covered with multi-colored cubes. Off to side is a garment rack with glittering evening gown hanging. CHORUS' lines appear on projection screen at appropriate time behind ARIS ...
W4578
25.05.2011
LAIKART - Eirene Efstathiou, Maria Michou, Iris Plaitakis
WWW
LAIKART artist group for unrealized utopian projects Inception LAIKART was an artist group founded in Athens, Greece, by Eirene Efstathiou (artist), Maria Michou (architect) and Iris Plaitakis (artist / archaeologist). In 2006, when LAIKART to ...
LAIKART artist group for unrealized utopian projects Inception LAIKART was an artist group founded in Athens, Greece, by Eirene Efstathiou (artist), Maria Michou (architect) and Iris Plaitakis (artist / archaeologist). In 2006, when LAIKART to ...
W4134
23.05.2011
The Order of Reflections - Jerzy Olek
WWW
Jerzy Olek The Order of Reflections In former centuries in order to transpose a view onto a piece of paper draughtsmen used a frames screen divided into square sections. They observed the view through their perspective machine, and built their pictu ...
Jerzy Olek The Order of Reflections In former centuries in order to transpose a view onto a piece of paper draughtsmen used a frames screen divided into square sections. They observed the view through their perspective machine, and built their pictu ...
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.... ...
W4963
21.08.2012
At Knifepoint - Art Van Triest
WWW
At knifepoint is an interactive installation that moves with the body of the spectator. the knives all stay at 10 cm from the body http://youtu.be/7ELCRr9fBGw ...
At knifepoint is an interactive installation that moves with the body of the spectator. the knives all stay at 10 cm from the body http://youtu.be/7ELCRr9fBGw ...
U9816
05.02.1990
The pyramids...to be seen to be believed - Jonathan Monk
Unbuilt Roads
Glasgow 1990 Cultural Capital of Europe 5 February 1990 Mr Jonathan Monk 22 Cecil Street Hillhead Glasgow G12 8RH Dear Jonathan Monk Thank you very much for your exciting letter concerning your proposed project for this year namely ...
Glasgow 1990 Cultural Capital of Europe 5 February 1990 Mr Jonathan Monk 22 Cecil Street Hillhead Glasgow G12 8RH Dear Jonathan Monk Thank you very much for your exciting letter concerning your proposed project for this year namely ...
W3638
14.05.2011
lynn hershman Leeson
WWW
This piece reveals the biological system/internal workings of ballet dancers, particularly pregnant ones, who dance to the rhythm and sounds of their own blood stream and heartbeat. ...
This piece reveals the biological system/internal workings of ballet dancers, particularly pregnant ones, who dance to the rhythm and sounds of their own blood stream and heartbeat. ...
W10245
09.04.2014
Observatory for the Study of Metropolitan Man - Bastiaan Arler
WWW
The project consists of a temporary structure made of easily available scaffolding that can be installed in any city square. It is open to the public and thus allows people to observe and to be observed in two distinct moments. The project has never been ...
The project consists of a temporary structure made of easily available scaffolding that can be installed in any city square. It is open to the public and thus allows people to observe and to be observed in two distinct moments. The project has never been ...
W4962
21.08.2012
Erehaag (double row) - Art Van Triest
WWW
interactive double row (dutch: erehaag) http://youtu.be/zocvP7KFWmE ...
interactive double row (dutch: erehaag) http://youtu.be/zocvP7KFWmE ...
W3954
20.05.2011
Doug Fogelson
WWW
This is a project to make a house shape out of chain link fence material, razor wire, fluorescent lights and plants. It was intended as a comment on Guantanamo Prison and the promise of American society. 10.4.06 Dear Mr. Littman, We would l ...
This is a project to make a house shape out of chain link fence material, razor wire, fluorescent lights and plants. It was intended as a comment on Guantanamo Prison and the promise of American society. 10.4.06 Dear Mr. Littman, We would l ...
W3815
19.05.2011
Bury Me Like This - T. Kelly Mason
WWW
Bury Me Like This A project proposed in 2007 and distributed in the form of a public invitation sent from Adamski, Berlin. The work is to to be executed as soon as possible. The work proposes that, upon the occasion of my death, my clothed body sha ...
Bury Me Like This A project proposed in 2007 and distributed in the form of a public invitation sent from Adamski, Berlin. The work is to to be executed as soon as possible. The work proposes that, upon the occasion of my death, my clothed body sha ...
W4344
24.05.2011
Proposal for installation March 2010 - John Kenny
WWW
Proposal for installation March 2010 ...
Proposal for installation March 2010 ...
W3765
18.05.2011
Nonlinear - Thomas Wulffen
WWW
'Nonlinear' was an exhibition project, that incorporates cultural expression without any borders, besides the main topic of 'Nonlinear': art as an epistemology besides the science. see also:http://www.catrack.de/nonlinear/ ...
'Nonlinear' was an exhibition project, that incorporates cultural expression without any borders, besides the main topic of 'Nonlinear': art as an epistemology besides the science. see also:http://www.catrack.de/nonlinear/ ...
W4172
24.05.2011
The Neverending Fence - Tom Butler
WWW
Statement for The Agency Of Unrealized Projects I use found postcards as miniature environments for sinister and fantastical scenarios. These proposals are not intended be realized and are also distanced from us by the age of the postcard, the only pl ...
Statement for The Agency Of Unrealized Projects I use found postcards as miniature environments for sinister and fantastical scenarios. These proposals are not intended be realized and are also distanced from us by the age of the postcard, the only pl ...
W4775
31.05.2011
El fracaso de Xochiquetzal - ana gallardo
WWW
El fracaso de Xochiquetzal Ensayo reflexionar sobre la vejez y su condición ante la cercanía de la muerte en el mundo contemporáneo. En nuestra cultura hay una imagen desfavorable del envejecimiento, esta etapa despierta sentimientos encontrados, ...
El fracaso de Xochiquetzal Ensayo reflexionar sobre la vejez y su condición ante la cercanía de la muerte en el mundo contemporáneo. En nuestra cultura hay una imagen desfavorable del envejecimiento, esta etapa despierta sentimientos encontrados, ...
U9736
12.03.1997
Battery Park City - Per Kirkeby
Unbuilt Roads
Dear Mr. Kirkeby Today I received the ektachromes for the book on unrealised projects form Michael Werner in New York-many thanks. We would be most thankful if you could fax us some more text related to these projects. With my best regards Hans Ulrich ...
Dear Mr. Kirkeby Today I received the ektachromes for the book on unrealised projects form Michael Werner in New York-many thanks. We would be most thankful if you could fax us some more text related to these projects. With my best regards Hans Ulrich ...
W3498
11.05.2011
John Ryan
WWW
A meek critique of ambiguous language used in art criticism and statements, I created a list of advice for artists, composed of cut outs from horoscopes. ...
A meek critique of ambiguous language used in art criticism and statements, I created a list of advice for artists, composed of cut outs from horoscopes. ...
W4132
23.05.2011
A Labyrinth of Illusions - Jerzy Olek
WWW
A Labyrinth of Illusions The exhibition would present my works from the series “The Dimensionslessness of Illusion”. Drawings, photographs, collages, computer graphics and stereomontages–all reflecting the variety of techniques used in the const ...
A Labyrinth of Illusions The exhibition would present my works from the series “The Dimensionslessness of Illusion”. Drawings, photographs, collages, computer graphics and stereomontages–all reflecting the variety of techniques used in the const ...
W3675
15.05.2011
OmniPhantasmic* - Neil Craver
WWW
OmniPhantasmic* *Omni-             1. A combining form denoting all, every, everywhere; as in omnipotent, all-powerful; omnipresent; omnivorous.  *Phantasmic-          1. Something apparently s ...
OmniPhantasmic* *Omni-             1. A combining form denoting all, every, everywhere; as in omnipotent, all-powerful; omnipresent; omnivorous.  *Phantasmic-          1. Something apparently s ...
W5127
18.09.2012
Taxonomy of Suspended Ideas - Mariangeles Soto-Diaz
WWW
Taxonomy of Suspended Ideas (Volume 1, 52) by Mariángeles Soto-Díaz (2012) "Taxonomy of Suspended Ideas" is a standalone classification system for ideas whose future will never be. The taxonomy adapts every year to accommodate the exponential growth of ...
Taxonomy of Suspended Ideas (Volume 1, 52) by Mariángeles Soto-Díaz (2012) "Taxonomy of Suspended Ideas" is a standalone classification system for ideas whose future will never be. The taxonomy adapts every year to accommodate the exponential growth of ...
W4755
27.05.2011
Dreamy - Oona Stern
WWW
dreamy A wall is constructed brick-and-mortar style, but instead of clay or stone, the bricks are made from shrubbery. It is both a wall and a topiary, bringing together architecture and the garden. As typical of hedgerows, it serves to define space, ...
dreamy A wall is constructed brick-and-mortar style, but instead of clay or stone, the bricks are made from shrubbery. It is both a wall and a topiary, bringing together architecture and the garden. As typical of hedgerows, it serves to define space, ...
W4651
25.05.2011
Abscissa Abyss  - Darr Tah Lei
WWW
Abscissa Abyss Rhapsody Project for a 3D painting on a Dome Geometric figures will be drawn with black charcoal or black ink in a 360º degrees wall of a Dome including the ceiling. This display with geometric figures placed chaotically will be watched ...
Abscissa Abyss Rhapsody Project for a 3D painting on a Dome Geometric figures will be drawn with black charcoal or black ink in a 360º degrees wall of a Dome including the ceiling. This display with geometric figures placed chaotically will be watched ...
W3486
11.05.2011
There is a major problem in Australia
WWW
TWO IMAGES OF WHAT I CALL THE ENDLESS CHARACTER OF A NATURE FULL OF NATIVES. I DONT THINK THIS WILL OR COULD BE EVER FINISHED BECAUSE TO ME THEY WERE BORN BY THE TIME THEY DIED. SO THEY REMAIN A PHOTOGRAPH THAT NEED A STILL LIFE SHOT. ...
TWO IMAGES OF WHAT I CALL THE ENDLESS CHARACTER OF A NATURE FULL OF NATIVES. I DONT THINK THIS WILL OR COULD BE EVER FINISHED BECAUSE TO ME THEY WERE BORN BY THE TIME THEY DIED. SO THEY REMAIN A PHOTOGRAPH THAT NEED A STILL LIFE SHOT. ...