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.

Unrealized Projects - Jonas Meckas

Brücke Wein-Kanal Arch. Hermann Czech, Wein - Franz West

Project tor the Veterans Administration Hospital--Bay Pines, Florida. - Robert Morris

Fax Transmission - Raymond Pettibone and Jason Rhoades

Douglas Gordon - 5 year drive-by; proposal for a public artwork.

Memorial - Ilya Kabakov

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

Tower Cranes, Paris  - Tadashi Kawamata

Niemandsland - Hans Haacke

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
W5466
21.10.2012
THE STREET IS ALSO A HOUSE ... - António Rosa da Silva
WWW
explores the urban environment interactions in a series of sets of furniture perfectly stereotyped in any existing interior space, public or private. The object is materialized in a plane to be held in red Valchromat (MDF), this plane is placed at a ve ...
explores the urban environment interactions in a series of sets of furniture perfectly stereotyped in any existing interior space, public or private. The object is materialized in a plane to be held in red Valchromat (MDF), this plane is placed at a ve ...
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 ...
W5112
16.09.2012
The Cactus Room - Javier Tapia
WWW
THE CAUCUS ROOM Project proposal for OVERGADEN By Javier Tapia The authentic moment of discovery, the breakthrough, occurs when a properly universal dimension explodes from within a particular context and becomes “for itself”, and is directly ex ...
THE CAUCUS ROOM Project proposal for OVERGADEN By Javier Tapia The authentic moment of discovery, the breakthrough, occurs when a properly universal dimension explodes from within a particular context and becomes “for itself”, and is directly ex ...
U9646
16.01.1997
Dog Jaw Monument - A Futurist Tele-introject - Leon Golub
Unbuilt Roads
Years: A.D 2096, A.D. 2777, A.D. 3096 See drawing (to be submitted if desired) note: time - 2096 - becoming a critical exponential extension of the artist's hand (eventual reasons why the work has not been realised) Project has not reached a cri ...
Years: A.D 2096, A.D. 2777, A.D. 3096 See drawing (to be submitted if desired) note: time - 2096 - becoming a critical exponential extension of the artist's hand (eventual reasons why the work has not been realised) Project has not reached a cri ...
W4117
23.05.2011
Water and air - Marisa Prefer
WWW
Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans.  -Jacques Yves Cousteau I am working using well-known objects as well as invisible devices. Creating multidimensional collage using public space and a ...
Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans.  -Jacques Yves Cousteau I am working using well-known objects as well as invisible devices. Creating multidimensional collage using public space and a ...
W4076
23.05.2011
Reuniting ‘Between You & I - Sara Brannan
WWW
In 2007 Anthony McCall produced a limited edition number of prints (150) to coincide with his exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery in London. What I’d like to do in this work is try to reunite as many as possible of the prints to be exhibited togethe ...
In 2007 Anthony McCall produced a limited edition number of prints (150) to coincide with his exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery in London. What I’d like to do in this work is try to reunite as many as possible of the prints to be exhibited togethe ...
W4761
27.05.2011
24-Hour Kaprow - Richard Smolinski
WWW
"24-Hour Kaprow" was envisioned as a performance video where Kaprow’s collected works would be re-presented through a 24 hour long video. RICHard SMOLinski’s unrealized project, 24-Hour Kaprow 24-Hour Kaprow was envisioned as a performance vide ...
"24-Hour Kaprow" was envisioned as a performance video where Kaprow’s collected works would be re-presented through a 24 hour long video. RICHard SMOLinski’s unrealized project, 24-Hour Kaprow 24-Hour Kaprow was envisioned as a performance vide ...
W4956
20.08.2012
Carpet Bombing- Iraqi Markets - Eugene Soler
WWW
Since the war in Iraq 2001 and the ousting of the Iraqi goverment in 2002-2003, we have witnessed the vast amount of insurgents who have used 'terror' as their main weapon. By attacking and bombing gathering places and large crowds, terrorists can inflict ...
Since the war in Iraq 2001 and the ousting of the Iraqi goverment in 2002-2003, we have witnessed the vast amount of insurgents who have used 'terror' as their main weapon. By attacking and bombing gathering places and large crowds, terrorists can inflict ...
W4638
25.05.2011
SITUTOPIK - DEHOVE Claire
WWW
SITUTOPIK L’école-cité de l’imaginaire et de la citoyenneté. Projet du 1 % ARTISTIQUE DU COLLEGE EUGENE VIGNE A BEAUCAIRE Claire Dehove avec Loraine Djidi ...
SITUTOPIK L’école-cité de l’imaginaire et de la citoyenneté. Projet du 1 % ARTISTIQUE DU COLLEGE EUGENE VIGNE A BEAUCAIRE Claire Dehove avec Loraine Djidi ...
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 ...
W3799
18.05.2011
PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION OF THE STONE CIRCLES OF SENEGAL AND THE GAMBIA - Kerry Stuart Coppin
WWW
Panoramic Documentation of The Stone Circles of Senegal and The Gambia: I propose to extend visual research to a region of the continent not well known - a little documented rural region. One of five sites in Africa recently (2006) declared Unesco World ...
Panoramic Documentation of The Stone Circles of Senegal and The Gambia: I propose to extend visual research to a region of the continent not well known - a little documented rural region. One of five sites in Africa recently (2006) declared Unesco World ...
W4190
24.05.2011
ZhangLu
WWW
The political speech in China, most of speaker are speaked with unacceptable slow tunes. And clapping of the time may longer than a sentence. This project is consists of tow parts, a book and an online game. The book is about how to made the handclap in d ...
The political speech in China, most of speaker are speaked with unacceptable slow tunes. And clapping of the time may longer than a sentence. This project is consists of tow parts, a book and an online game. The book is about how to made the handclap in d ...
W5066
04.09.2012
Icelandic Elements - Alexander Zaklynsky
WWW
Curatorial Statement : Icelandic Elements - 4 Directions in Icelandic Painting Iceland o!ers the Artist an environment of extreme elements. "ese Elements indelibly imprint their impression. "e four Artists in this Exhibition represent these undercurrents ...
Curatorial Statement : Icelandic Elements - 4 Directions in Icelandic Painting Iceland o!ers the Artist an environment of extreme elements. "ese Elements indelibly imprint their impression. "e four Artists in this Exhibition represent these undercurrents ...
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. ...
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 ...
W5479
21.10.2012
Mariangeles Soto-Diaz
WWW
Hi - I just wondered whether you had received my work, Taxonomy of Suspended Ideas (Volume 1, 52) and had decided to use it. Thank you and best wishes, Mariangeles ...
Hi - I just wondered whether you had received my work, Taxonomy of Suspended Ideas (Volume 1, 52) and had decided to use it. Thank you and best wishes, Mariangeles ...
W4261
24.05.2011
The Bridge (Installation) - Arcady Kotler
WWW
Arcady Kotler The Bridge (Installation) Installation “The Bridge” is represented by a fragile rope bridge suspended over the exhibition space from wall to wall. The ropes and strings are tied in a way that resembles the appearance of New York ...
Arcady Kotler The Bridge (Installation) Installation “The Bridge” is represented by a fragile rope bridge suspended over the exhibition space from wall to wall. The ropes and strings are tied in a way that resembles the appearance of New York ...
W5903
18.10.2013
Scouts - Matthijs Muller
WWW
Instead of nature represented by some poor trees put in a "pot" between towering office-buildings these trees (in concrete "pots", with dustbins but without benches) scout new territory for future city expansion, just outside but still within sight of the ...
Instead of nature represented by some poor trees put in a "pot" between towering office-buildings these trees (in concrete "pots", with dustbins but without benches) scout new territory for future city expansion, just outside but still within sight of the ...
W5275
15.10.2012
You, Are Not You, You Are Me…No Shit - Beth Emily Richards
WWW
You, Are Not You, You Are Me…No Shit Beth Emily Richards www.bethemilyrichards.com All the Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonators in the world race each other on a military air assault obstacle course. The Arnie impersonator that comes last in the rou ...
You, Are Not You, You Are Me…No Shit Beth Emily Richards www.bethemilyrichards.com All the Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonators in the world race each other on a military air assault obstacle course. The Arnie impersonator that comes last in the rou ...
W5435
20.10.2012
ART FOR THE CITY - Matej Metlikovič
WWW
Unrealised projects ART FOR THE CITY, 2008 I'm sending you two photos of the unrealised projects created in 2008 on the theme »Art for the city«. The Society of Ljubljana's visual artists invited artists of Ljubljana to contribute ideas how to make ...
Unrealised projects ART FOR THE CITY, 2008 I'm sending you two photos of the unrealised projects created in 2008 on the theme »Art for the city«. The Society of Ljubljana's visual artists invited artists of Ljubljana to contribute ideas how to make ...
W4919
16.08.2012
Random Conservatorio - Riccardo Benassi
WWW
Random Conservatorio An old public swimming pool, disused since many years, will re-open today. Instead of being refill with water, the pool is pack with small and colorful toy keyboards. Any splash is a tune, any children a musician. Random Conse ...
Random Conservatorio An old public swimming pool, disused since many years, will re-open today. Instead of being refill with water, the pool is pack with small and colorful toy keyboards. Any splash is a tune, any children a musician. Random Conse ...
W4663
25.05.2011
Arbeit Macht Nicht Frei (Work doens’t bring freedom)  - DARR TAH LEI
WWW
Arbeit Macht Nicht Frei (Work doens’t bring freedom) Project for an installation 4 drawings hanged on 4 walls, masses of heavy chains hanging from the ceiling. Area of room needed - minimum 40 mt2 This artwork happens with the intention to emphasize t ...
Arbeit Macht Nicht Frei (Work doens’t bring freedom) Project for an installation 4 drawings hanged on 4 walls, masses of heavy chains hanging from the ceiling. Area of room needed - minimum 40 mt2 This artwork happens with the intention to emphasize t ...
W4194
24.05.2011
Fleury Jean Damien
WWW
Rotation terrestre avec différentiel / projet d'harmonisation par réglage des écoulements temporels ...
Rotation terrestre avec différentiel / projet d'harmonisation par réglage des écoulements temporels ...
W4515
25.05.2011
Viktor Timofeev
WWW
In this painting I have "created" a triumphal arch constructed out of 13 worker-housing units, stacked precariously and defying the laws of physics. While this village/monument is rendered to appear structurally sound, its context is most certainly utopia ...
In this painting I have "created" a triumphal arch constructed out of 13 worker-housing units, stacked precariously and defying the laws of physics. While this village/monument is rendered to appear structurally sound, its context is most certainly utopia ...
W5310
17.10.2012
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. ...
This project is to dress the entire serpentine Gallery in circus tents and invite visitors to be hypnotised to experience a false memory. ...
W5235
09.10.2012
Two Years’ Untouched Garden  - WOOLOO
WWW
Two Years’ Untouched Garden 6th Momentum Biennial Moss, Norway (2011) Two Years’ Untouched Garden was Wooloo’s proposed work for the 6th Momentum Biennial. The work was to be a sculptural intervention among the gardens and grounds of the historical ...
Two Years’ Untouched Garden 6th Momentum Biennial Moss, Norway (2011) Two Years’ Untouched Garden was Wooloo’s proposed work for the 6th Momentum Biennial. The work was to be a sculptural intervention among the gardens and grounds of the historical ...