Agency of Unrealised Projects
Continue
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.

Click to continue...


The Rosetta Garden - Gary Simmons

Uncompleted 1966 - and on  - John Armleder

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

Placid Earth: A Project for the Meeting of Millennia - Cai Guo Quiang

2 Architecture Towers - Robert Irwin

Project for the Initiative Mahnmal Homosexuellenverfolgung, Frankfurt  - Jeff Wall

Passage - Richard Wentworth

Messages to the Public - Nancy Spero

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

PROJEKT - Ulrich Rückreim

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
#
Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W3705
17.05.2011
PA(E/S)SAGGIO - beatrice crastini
WWW
Project to next Documenta-Kassel, at the moment nobody have contact me. It's on the utopia of the cohabitation by Franco Rotelli, historic successor by Franco Basaglia father of the psychiatric revolution Beauty is a need, the ugliness makes it ugly. ...
Project to next Documenta-Kassel, at the moment nobody have contact me. It's on the utopia of the cohabitation by Franco Rotelli, historic successor by Franco Basaglia father of the psychiatric revolution Beauty is a need, the ugliness makes it ugly. ...
, ,
W3694
16.05.2011
Doppler Symphony - leo fitzmaurice
WWW
Proposal The proposal is to overlay two Doppler Effect * phenomena (change in pitch and volume) onto a piece of music. Process Start with a multi-track recording of a piece of music (one track per instrument) Split each track of the recording ...
Proposal The proposal is to overlay two Doppler Effect * phenomena (change in pitch and volume) onto a piece of music. Process Start with a multi-track recording of a piece of music (one track per instrument) Split each track of the recording ...
, , ,
W5298
17.10.2012
EFI SAVVIDES
WWW
Nature is always quick to assume the position of history when history, like an impotent and weary creature, gradually loosens its hold on things, receding deeper and deeper into the negative space of oblivion, during its irreversible descent coming apart ...
Nature is always quick to assume the position of history when history, like an impotent and weary creature, gradually loosens its hold on things, receding deeper and deeper into the negative space of oblivion, during its irreversible descent coming apart ...
, ,
W4048
22.05.2011
NESTED VOIDS: LA GROTTE DU MAS D’AZIL - Bradley Pitts
WWW
Unrealized Proposal for NESTED VOIDS: LA GROTTE DU MAS D’AZIL
 Bradley Pitts, 2010 The cave of Le Mas-d'Azil (la grotte du Mas d'Azil), FR, was one of the first prehistoric caves to yield evidence of human habitation. Its main feature is a 500-met ...
Unrealized Proposal for NESTED VOIDS: LA GROTTE DU MAS D’AZIL
 Bradley Pitts, 2010 The cave of Le Mas-d'Azil (la grotte du Mas d'Azil), FR, was one of the first prehistoric caves to yield evidence of human habitation. Its main feature is a 500-met ...
, ,
U9798
01.01.1972
Prima del 73 - Fabio Mauri
Unbuilt Roads
see my letter (eventually reasons why the work has not been realised) Anxiety Previous Publications (?) This thing is mentioned in "Fabio Mauri Opere e Azioni 1954-1994" Giorgio Mondadori Ed. Exisiting Documents (photos, drawings, models): ...
see my letter (eventually reasons why the work has not been realised) Anxiety Previous Publications (?) This thing is mentioned in "Fabio Mauri Opere e Azioni 1954-1994" Giorgio Mondadori Ed. Exisiting Documents (photos, drawings, models): ...
, , , ,
W4426
25.05.2011
The Unicorn Lake - Yona Friedman
WWW
The Unicorn Lake Project for the lake of sculptures of Vassivière island, France July 2009 On the lake of Vassivière After creating in 2009, in the framework of the exhibition Etc. Balkis Island, The Vassivière Unicorn ("Unicorn Eiffel"), a sculp ...
The Unicorn Lake Project for the lake of sculptures of Vassivière island, France July 2009 On the lake of Vassivière After creating in 2009, in the framework of the exhibition Etc. Balkis Island, The Vassivière Unicorn ("Unicorn Eiffel"), a sculp ...
, ,
W5269
13.10.2012
The Politics of the Divine–Thangka numérique - Nu'a Bön
WWW
"The Politics of the Divine–Thangka numérique". Bikiki Atoll 1946 Thangka numérique (2009); Aotearoa 2009 Thangka numérique (2009). Visual ruminations on the agency and agendas of critical thinking in art, buddhist teachings, and digital technology ...
"The Politics of the Divine–Thangka numérique". Bikiki Atoll 1946 Thangka numérique (2009); Aotearoa 2009 Thangka numérique (2009). Visual ruminations on the agency and agendas of critical thinking in art, buddhist teachings, and digital technology ...
, ,
W5314
17.10.2012
Panikon deima - Cynthia Reynolds
WWW
An unrealized electrostatic installation Below is part of a detailed proposal prepared for me by an organometallic chemist I contacted via the Internet in 2005 and corresponded with over a two-year period. He had a website expressing a personal interes ...
An unrealized electrostatic installation Below is part of a detailed proposal prepared for me by an organometallic chemist I contacted via the Internet in 2005 and corresponded with over a two-year period. He had a website expressing a personal interes ...
, ,
W5273
14.10.2012
Cut Here - Bryndís Björnsdóttir
WWW
Cut Here The work proposed for Art Needs Space is a simple drawing of a kite. The kite is digitally drawn as well as hand drawn but the hand drawn elements can be seen in the “cut here” lines of the kite figure. The two-dimensional poster is glued o ...
Cut Here The work proposed for Art Needs Space is a simple drawing of a kite. The kite is digitally drawn as well as hand drawn but the hand drawn elements can be seen in the “cut here” lines of the kite figure. The two-dimensional poster is glued o ...
, , , , ,
W3756
18.05.2011
Mevagissey Old Fishermen - Venessa Lagrand
WWW
Mevagissey Old Fishermen is a panel of 40 hand painted ceramic tiles (each tile 15 x 15 cm) reproduction of an old photograph - with artistic licence - of a scene of a small harbour in Cornwall GB around 1900 - see image attached and on www.artmajeur.com/ ...
Mevagissey Old Fishermen is a panel of 40 hand painted ceramic tiles (each tile 15 x 15 cm) reproduction of an old photograph - with artistic licence - of a scene of a small harbour in Cornwall GB around 1900 - see image attached and on www.artmajeur.com/ ...
, ,
W5348
18.10.2012
The house skin project - Rebecca Harris
WWW
The house skin project was intended to explore the transitory and fragile nature of home. Placing lightweight muslin fabric onto the entire side of a windowless brick wall an indexical print would remain. The project got as far as a trial piece, as seen ...
The house skin project was intended to explore the transitory and fragile nature of home. Placing lightweight muslin fabric onto the entire side of a windowless brick wall an indexical print would remain. The project got as far as a trial piece, as seen ...
, , ,
W3994
21.05.2011
Industry of the Ordinary
WWW
Industry of the Ordinary wish to create a portrait of Barack Obama, at this monumental time, by casting his likeness in butter and taking him home to the State Fair in Springfield, Illinois, the town where his political career was born. The Harvest ...
Industry of the Ordinary wish to create a portrait of Barack Obama, at this monumental time, by casting his likeness in butter and taking him home to the State Fair in Springfield, Illinois, the town where his political career was born. The Harvest ...
, , ,
W5070
05.09.2012
Unterirdischer Birkenwald / Subterranean Birch Forest - Römer + Römer
WWW
Unterirdischer Birkenwald / Subterranean Birch Forest Unrealized: Land Art Project Realized: Print of Wallpaper (1.80 m x 150 m) RÖMER + RÖMER, 2005 „Unterirdischer Birkenwald”
 Als Landartprojekt planten RÖMER & RÖMER den Bau eines Deich ...
Unterirdischer Birkenwald / Subterranean Birch Forest Unrealized: Land Art Project Realized: Print of Wallpaper (1.80 m x 150 m) RÖMER + RÖMER, 2005 „Unterirdischer Birkenwald”
 Als Landartprojekt planten RÖMER & RÖMER den Bau eines Deich ...
, , ,
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 ...
, ,
W5381
19.10.2012
Two projects for the World Government Building  - Samuil Stoyanov
WWW
Two projects for the World Government Building by Samuil Stoyanov – visual artist These are two of three objects which I made 2009 – 2010, as a metaphoric, utopian projects for the future building of the World Government Office. This institu ...
Two projects for the World Government Building by Samuil Stoyanov – visual artist These are two of three objects which I made 2009 – 2010, as a metaphoric, utopian projects for the future building of the World Government Office. This institu ...
, , ,
W4164
23.05.2011
Judith Sönnicken
WWW
my unrealizeable artwork is the image of my nose turning into a balcony and my brain coming out to have a cigarette. the point of visualizing it would be to put it in front of the eyes, but in fact that image is taking place behind. ...
my unrealizeable artwork is the image of my nose turning into a balcony and my brain coming out to have a cigarette. the point of visualizing it would be to put it in front of the eyes, but in fact that image is taking place behind. ...
W5286
16.10.2012
Cove - Jerry Monteith
WWW
Cove Cove is a site work that would be made of earth, concrete and aluminum. The bulk of the mass is earth, which would be compacted and finished with a layer of topsoil. The curved wall, two orange vertical panels and the cone would all need to have s ...
Cove Cove is a site work that would be made of earth, concrete and aluminum. The bulk of the mass is earth, which would be compacted and finished with a layer of topsoil. The curved wall, two orange vertical panels and the cone would all need to have s ...
, , ,
W10685
01.01.1998
THE CLOUD ROOM - ADAM KALINOWSKI
WWW
Project for kinetic outdoor sculpture. Total dimensions: 1800x3500x3000cm. Dimensions of the orange structure: 500 x 720 x 540 cm. Model in 1:8 scale. Steel, aluminum, heavy fabric, aircraft cable, and propellers with reduction gears. Propellers are ...
Project for kinetic outdoor sculpture. Total dimensions: 1800x3500x3000cm. Dimensions of the orange structure: 500 x 720 x 540 cm. Model in 1:8 scale. Steel, aluminum, heavy fabric, aircraft cable, and propellers with reduction gears. Propellers are ...
, , ,
W4111
23.05.2011
“The Observed Observer" - Alexandre Dang
WWW
“The Observed Observer" Introduction Artist Alexandre Dang works on raising awareness on contemporary and extemporal issues. The installation of “The Observed Observer” offers the visitor to experience something totally unusual. This work enab ...
“The Observed Observer" Introduction Artist Alexandre Dang works on raising awareness on contemporary and extemporal issues. The installation of “The Observed Observer” offers the visitor to experience something totally unusual. This work enab ...
, , ,
W3849
19.05.2011
The Trace of A Production Site - YU-HANG HUANG
WWW
is a performance based installation, which deals with memory, moving and production. The installation contains my hand-made copies of everyday objects from water-resistant polyethylene foam. ...
is a performance based installation, which deals with memory, moving and production. The installation contains my hand-made copies of everyday objects from water-resistant polyethylene foam. ...
, ,
W3532
11.05.2011
The Sounds of the Sun Pavilion - Michael Jantzen
WWW
​The Sounds of the Sun Pavilion is a conceptual proposal for a large structure made of many small, pre-fabricated, square, curved, steel tube components. These components are joined together to form thirteen large interwoven curved elements. One side o ...
​The Sounds of the Sun Pavilion is a conceptual proposal for a large structure made of many small, pre-fabricated, square, curved, steel tube components. These components are joined together to form thirteen large interwoven curved elements. One side o ...
, , ,
W5087
10.09.2012
Theâtre (theatre) - Vincent Roumagnac / Aurélie Pétrel / le vrac
WWW
In April 2012 Roumagnac gets from the directors of L!Elysée (theatre – Lyon, France) to proceed the whitening of their whole theatre (stage + audience space). Through this whitening Roumagnac aims to «"reveal"» the illusion of the disappearence of th ...
In April 2012 Roumagnac gets from the directors of L!Elysée (theatre – Lyon, France) to proceed the whitening of their whole theatre (stage + audience space). Through this whitening Roumagnac aims to «"reveal"» the illusion of the disappearence of th ...
, , ,
U9528
01.01.1988
Billboard - Jimmie Durham
Unbuilt Roads
a "U.S, Highway" - size billboard structure built along some street or auto-route. It would be complete with lights, but built on a structure to look at, that is to say, without a 'message' Without text or images superimposed. (eventually reasons why ...
a "U.S, Highway" - size billboard structure built along some street or auto-route. It would be complete with lights, but built on a structure to look at, that is to say, without a 'message' Without text or images superimposed. (eventually reasons why ...
, , ,
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 ...
, ,
W4595
25.05.2011
HOLY CORNERS - GABRIELLA DARIS
WWW
Gabriella Daris | HOLY CORNERS | 2010 The artist: The Lonoon based artist Gabriella Daris (Gabriella Tsavdaris) has built an art installation entitled, HOLY CORNERS, which Out Of The Box Intermedia has commissioned, and which is to be presented in the ...
Gabriella Daris | HOLY CORNERS | 2010 The artist: The Lonoon based artist Gabriella Daris (Gabriella Tsavdaris) has built an art installation entitled, HOLY CORNERS, which Out Of The Box Intermedia has commissioned, and which is to be presented in the ...
, ,
W3591
13.05.2011
Museum of Unrealized Projects - Stephen Perkins
WWW
Please find attached a work titled "Museum of Unrealized Projects," (2011). This museum can be utilized as the final resting place of the Agency of Unrealized Projects - this museum charges no entrance fees and accepts donations on an unjuried basis. ...
Please find attached a work titled "Museum of Unrealized Projects," (2011). This museum can be utilized as the final resting place of the Agency of Unrealized Projects - this museum charges no entrance fees and accepts donations on an unjuried basis. ...
, ,