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.

Electronic Theater - Laurie Anderson

WATERWORKS - Mona Hatoum

Broadway Musicals - Christian Marclay

Monument with Rust - Gustav Metzger

654 THINGS from The United States - Edward Ruscha

Double Exposure 1995-6  - Dan Graham

La Guerra De Los Simbolos - Victor Grippo

Unrealized Turtles 1967 - Joseph Grigely

d'un projet dédié aux victimes de la Shoah. - Christian Boltanski

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

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W3506
11.05.2011
Evidence of Difference - Sarah Hemm
WWW
Evidence of Difference criteria: must take one photograph every day of 2011 that will represent evidence of my difference
work must answer the question, “what makes me different? what am I doing today that is different than everyone else? what se ...
Evidence of Difference criteria: must take one photograph every day of 2011 that will represent evidence of my difference
work must answer the question, “what makes me different? what am I doing today that is different than everyone else? what se ...
W5005
30.08.2012
Hanover House - Peter Friedl
WWW
Peter Friedl, Hanover House, 2003 Proposal for Hanover 5 inkjet prints, 100 x 133 cm each Hanover House (2003) Treehouses are common images and objects of desire for individualism, dropping out, childhood, being in tune with nature, self-determin ...
Peter Friedl, Hanover House, 2003 Proposal for Hanover 5 inkjet prints, 100 x 133 cm each Hanover House (2003) Treehouses are common images and objects of desire for individualism, dropping out, childhood, being in tune with nature, self-determin ...
W4406
25.05.2011
Incongruous Runaway Homes, to run away with or to run to. - Eleanna Horiti
WWW
Incongruous Runaway Homes, to run away with or to run to. A formulation of childhood visions The Runaway Roulotte was to be made of wooden planks and mud! A bicycle wheel with pedals attached to it and cart wheels. Its most important feature was tha ...
Incongruous Runaway Homes, to run away with or to run to. A formulation of childhood visions The Runaway Roulotte was to be made of wooden planks and mud! A bicycle wheel with pedals attached to it and cart wheels. Its most important feature was tha ...
W3732
18.05.2011
POP GOES THE WEASEL - Anne O'Callaghan & Barbara Sternberg
WWW
The following is a brief synopsis of the proposal, POP GOES THE WEASEL, that we submitted for 2011 Nuit Blanche, Toronto, Ontario Canada. This proposal was rejected due to censorship by the local Business Improvement Association (BIA), see emails below** ...
The following is a brief synopsis of the proposal, POP GOES THE WEASEL, that we submitted for 2011 Nuit Blanche, Toronto, Ontario Canada. This proposal was rejected due to censorship by the local Business Improvement Association (BIA), see emails below** ...
W4829
07.08.2012
Le Grand Mort - Edgar Orlaineta
WWW
Edgar Orlianeta México City 1972 LE GRAND MORT (La Gran Muerte). 2002. Digital photo-montage for project to be located in the desert near Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua (México) and El Paso, Texas (US). The project was meant to be made with a steel pol ...
Edgar Orlianeta México City 1972 LE GRAND MORT (La Gran Muerte). 2002. Digital photo-montage for project to be located in the desert near Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua (México) and El Paso, Texas (US). The project was meant to be made with a steel pol ...
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 ...
U9848
01.01.1997
Right-of-Privacy Release - Tony Oursler
Unbuilt Roads
Miscellaneous Instruments FORM 5:I-3.02 RIGHT-OF-PRIVACY RELEASE Short Form [Name of Motion Picture Company] [Address] Dear Sirs: I am one of the persons of whom [name of author] wrote in his book [name of book]. You are p ...
Miscellaneous Instruments FORM 5:I-3.02 RIGHT-OF-PRIVACY RELEASE Short Form [Name of Motion Picture Company] [Address] Dear Sirs: I am one of the persons of whom [name of author] wrote in his book [name of book]. You are p ...
W3841
19.05.2011
God's ear wax - Janice Perry
WWW
"God's ear wax." Large sculpture for public space. Multiple media. Conceived 2004/2011. Janice Perry. B. 1950. USA. The sculpture is comprised of an extremely large ball of wax (with a very high melting point), 100-500 feet in diameter, dark golden br ...
"God's ear wax." Large sculpture for public space. Multiple media. Conceived 2004/2011. Janice Perry. B. 1950. USA. The sculpture is comprised of an extremely large ball of wax (with a very high melting point), 100-500 feet in diameter, dark golden br ...
W5380
19.10.2012
Caution! Work in Progress - Geraldo Zamproni
WWW
Caution! Work in Progress Rack or plastic folding board with vibrant yellow tone is a warning message that awakens the immediate interest of the observer in conferring closely with looking at what is happening. ...
Caution! Work in Progress Rack or plastic folding board with vibrant yellow tone is a warning message that awakens the immediate interest of the observer in conferring closely with looking at what is happening. ...
W4268
24.05.2011
The Winter Garden - Kristin Jones / Andrew Ginzel
WWW
Proposal for The Winter Garden New York City 1986 ...
Proposal for The Winter Garden New York City 1986 ...
W4466
25.05.2011
LEAVE UR MYTH - Lea Petrou
WWW
LEAVE UR MYTH, 2007 For a never realized exhibition at the city of Sarajevo, I proposed a floor-based installation that consists of some hundreds of souvenir bottles of ouzo, (4.5 x 4.5 x 15 cm each). The miniature bottles have the shape of Evzonas, a ...
LEAVE UR MYTH, 2007 For a never realized exhibition at the city of Sarajevo, I proposed a floor-based installation that consists of some hundreds of souvenir bottles of ouzo, (4.5 x 4.5 x 15 cm each). The miniature bottles have the shape of Evzonas, a ...
W3669
15.05.2011
Music For Distances - Carla Cisno
WWW
Proposal for Historisches Museum Baden (Switzerland) within DAS OHR DER ZEIT- Projektwettbewerb-Klangintervention im Historisches Museum Baden. Specifically designed for the spaces of Landvogteischloss, Music For Distances is a particular chordal-ram ...
Proposal for Historisches Museum Baden (Switzerland) within DAS OHR DER ZEIT- Projektwettbewerb-Klangintervention im Historisches Museum Baden. Specifically designed for the spaces of Landvogteischloss, Music For Distances is a particular chordal-ram ...
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 ...
W3677
15.05.2011
Broken Monumen - ESTHER ACHAERANDIO
WWW
Broken Monument Mixed Media. 8x8x18cm. 2011. Broken Monument takes part of a projects that I was working on for pleasure since 2001. While this works is comprised of a diferent of mediums, they do not aim to ladder up to a singular thesis. That sai ...
Broken Monument Mixed Media. 8x8x18cm. 2011. Broken Monument takes part of a projects that I was working on for pleasure since 2001. While this works is comprised of a diferent of mediums, they do not aim to ladder up to a singular thesis. That sai ...
W3819
19.05.2011
raphaele cohen-bacry
WWW
This is an example of the 50 dolls I made between 2007 and 2010. I used ‘’ugly’’, standardized dolls made in China and was interested in turning them into unique ‘’hand-made’’ dolls with a lot of personality and character. Each measures 4X ...
This is an example of the 50 dolls I made between 2007 and 2010. I used ‘’ugly’’, standardized dolls made in China and was interested in turning them into unique ‘’hand-made’’ dolls with a lot of personality and character. Each measures 4X ...
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 ...
W3582
13.05.2011
Umfassung (verborgen) - Sabine Hagmann
WWW
Idee Der Perimeter des St. Johanns-Platz wird während einem Jahr exakt mit einer zweieinhalb Meter hohen Wand eingefasst. Sie schliesst das ganze Gelände ein, mit Rasen, Wegen und Parkbänken. Die kleine Rasenfläche wird durch die Wand als Volu ...
Idee Der Perimeter des St. Johanns-Platz wird während einem Jahr exakt mit einer zweieinhalb Meter hohen Wand eingefasst. Sie schliesst das ganze Gelände ein, mit Rasen, Wegen und Parkbänken. Die kleine Rasenfläche wird durch die Wand als Volu ...
W4604
25.05.2011
Ideas as falling light energy for a day - Karen Roulstone
WWW
Ideas as falling light energy for a day These sample works are from the start of a project which aims were to attempt to map thought processes connected to ideas which can never be fully resolved. The plan was to map ideas diagrammatically as falling l ...
Ideas as falling light energy for a day These sample works are from the start of a project which aims were to attempt to map thought processes connected to ideas which can never be fully resolved. The plan was to map ideas diagrammatically as falling l ...
W3760
18.05.2011
2345 - Isabela Grosseova and Jesper Alvaer
WWW
2345 Public art proposal for Atlantic Ocean Drive, Norway. (English summary) (Norwegian in attached pdf) English summary: 2345: Proposal for the Atlantic Ocean Road 2010 The Atlantic Ocean Road (AOR) function already as a national monument. It ...
2345 Public art proposal for Atlantic Ocean Drive, Norway. (English summary) (Norwegian in attached pdf) English summary: 2345: Proposal for the Atlantic Ocean Road 2010 The Atlantic Ocean Road (AOR) function already as a national monument. It ...
W3740
18.05.2011
SMOKE SIGNAL CLOCK - Gabriel Lester
WWW
On the hour, as many clouds as hours. Drifting above city and/or landscape. Warm smoke of high density - such as is used for air shows (see image attached). Should preferably be realized in city or country with clear skies. ...
On the hour, as many clouds as hours. Drifting above city and/or landscape. Warm smoke of high density - such as is used for air shows (see image attached). Should preferably be realized in city or country with clear skies. ...
W4978
24.08.2012
Let it Flow - David Borawski
WWW
Proposal for ANTI festival Let It Flow, 2008 Proposed for the RÖNÖ Bridge site. I would enlist local residents and any interested parties to be participants in the project. The group meets at beginning end of bridge. Each person is given a re ...
Proposal for ANTI festival Let It Flow, 2008 Proposed for the RÖNÖ Bridge site. I would enlist local residents and any interested parties to be participants in the project. The group meets at beginning end of bridge. Each person is given a re ...
W4573
25.05.2011
Emily Puthoff
WWW
W3846
19.05.2011
We Prowl - Jodi Patterson
WWW
"We Prowl" series. Drew idealistic male forms on plastic as inspired by online personal profiles. Titles came from the tag lines used to lure a mate (submitting "Black Cat Hunting 4 Goddess" and "Wealth and Power"). Wealthy and Strong * 32- ...
"We Prowl" series. Drew idealistic male forms on plastic as inspired by online personal profiles. Titles came from the tag lines used to lure a mate (submitting "Black Cat Hunting 4 Goddess" and "Wealth and Power"). Wealthy and Strong * 32- ...
W4621
25.05.2011
Projekt Atlantik - Maria Dundakova
WWW
Projekt Atlantik- Song, Ebbe und Flut Rhytmen Klangrealisation und Wirkung Vorbereitung: Dokumentare Atlantikwellenklang Materialausarbeitung Während 30 Tagen am Morgen vor Sonnenaufgang habe ich Ebbe und Flut Wellengeräusche an der Brasilianischen Küs ...
Projekt Atlantik- Song, Ebbe und Flut Rhytmen Klangrealisation und Wirkung Vorbereitung: Dokumentare Atlantikwellenklang Materialausarbeitung Während 30 Tagen am Morgen vor Sonnenaufgang habe ich Ebbe und Flut Wellengeräusche an der Brasilianischen Küs ...
U9492
01.01.1996
"Ileana, I love you" - Maurizo Cattelan
Unbuilt Roads
1996 progetto "ilana, I love you" per la galleria Stefano Basilico di New York. Molte persone che conoscono Stefano Basilica per la sua galleria, conoscono anche che Stefano e' stato collaboratore per circa dieci anni alla galleria Sonnabend. Questo ...
1996 progetto "ilana, I love you" per la galleria Stefano Basilico di New York. Molte persone che conoscono Stefano Basilica per la sua galleria, conoscono anche che Stefano e' stato collaboratore per circa dieci anni alla galleria Sonnabend. Questo ...
W4302
24.05.2011
Black Box - Anna Balint, Béla Káli, József Tasnádi
WWW
Black Box  is a parallel reconstruction project evaluating the unique by repetition, an analyse of the essential existence of unrealized architectural projects through their increasing concrete existence. We construct a database of  50 remarkable archit ...
Black Box  is a parallel reconstruction project evaluating the unique by repetition, an analyse of the essential existence of unrealized architectural projects through their increasing concrete existence. We construct a database of  50 remarkable archit ...