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.

Isometric Projection - Sol Lewitt

Attitudine Diplomatica - Hermann Pitz

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

Broadway Musicals - Christian Marclay

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

The Rosetta Garden - Gary Simmons

Tulips for Amsterdam - Isa Genzken

Ruderaltisch, 1994/95 Kunst am Bau - Projekt - Lois Weinberger

Ceinture - Huang Ping Yong

Invitation Space No.1 - Tania Mouraud

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W4177
24.05.2011
"Let the Seasons Begin" - Steven Beckly
WWW
"Let the Seasons Begin" is a series of performance-based images inspired by a recurring dream character with anthropomorphic elephant features. In my dreams, this character existed in isolation from tangible surroundings and environments. ...
"Let the Seasons Begin" is a series of performance-based images inspired by a recurring dream character with anthropomorphic elephant features. In my dreams, this character existed in isolation from tangible surroundings and environments. ...
W4104
23.05.2011
On Level #02 - Håvard Pedersen
WWW
its center. The contrast of the die, which references gambling, and uncertainty with the absolute nature of a level were to pay tribute to the putty level of Marcel Duchamp. The die would be produced in an edition of 6 pairs, 12 die in total. ...
its center. The contrast of the die, which references gambling, and uncertainty with the absolute nature of a level were to pay tribute to the putty level of Marcel Duchamp. The die would be produced in an edition of 6 pairs, 12 die in total. ...
W4224
24.05.2011
The Hand of God - Magnus Monfeldt
WWW
The Hand of God This unrealized art project from 2005 involves casting the left hand of Escolastico Berto Mendez; a famous Diego Maradona look-a-like who has sacrificed his own identity to make a living being photographed around Buenos Aires suburb La ...
The Hand of God This unrealized art project from 2005 involves casting the left hand of Escolastico Berto Mendez; a famous Diego Maradona look-a-like who has sacrificed his own identity to make a living being photographed around Buenos Aires suburb La ...
W4113
23.05.2011
Xenia Imagines - Simon Chambers
WWW
Xenia Imagines is a proposed website telling a hyperfiction of a painter who allegedly paints xenia, an early form of Roman still life. The paintings, if they do exist may be part of an imaginary collection of paintings inspired by the descriptions of Phi ...
Xenia Imagines is a proposed website telling a hyperfiction of a painter who allegedly paints xenia, an early form of Roman still life. The paintings, if they do exist may be part of an imaginary collection of paintings inspired by the descriptions of Phi ...
W3700
17.05.2011
Las Spratlys Project - Jevijoe Vitug
WWW
Las Spratlys Project The unrealized project Las Spratlys is based on Spratly Islands, a disputed islands claimed by China, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. The initial concept is to activate these islands by creating a joint venture agreement ...
Las Spratlys Project The unrealized project Las Spratlys is based on Spratly Islands, a disputed islands claimed by China, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. The initial concept is to activate these islands by creating a joint venture agreement ...
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 ...
W4155
23.05.2011
Got to the Studio - Oli Sorenson
WWW
The “Got to the Studio” series is a yet-to-be realised project, recording several failed attempts to make a masterpiece, or similar great work of art, either through lack of talent or simple laziness. ...
The “Got to the Studio” series is a yet-to-be realised project, recording several failed attempts to make a masterpiece, or similar great work of art, either through lack of talent or simple laziness. ...
W4207
24.05.2011
Power House - Sonja Benskin Mesher
WWW
Ongoing series of paintings and drawing, a weekly diary, on my feelings about the Power House ...
Ongoing series of paintings and drawing, a weekly diary, on my feelings about the Power House ...
W3929
20.05.2011
AN ENTROPIC LINE BECOMES HOLONIC SPRAY  - Jane Boyer
WWW
AN ENTROPIC LINE BECOMES HOLONIC SPRAY (Highlights from my notes on the subject) Jane Boyer © 2011 Contrary to Mondrian’s idea of the immutable as expressed by two parallel lines, I see them as a perfectly ripe relationship for transference and ...
AN ENTROPIC LINE BECOMES HOLONIC SPRAY (Highlights from my notes on the subject) Jane Boyer © 2011 Contrary to Mondrian’s idea of the immutable as expressed by two parallel lines, I see them as a perfectly ripe relationship for transference and ...
W4855
08.08.2012
A kiss on Leyli's Navel - Neda Tavallaee
WWW
This is a work that emphasizes on telling the life story of an Iranian woman through the use of the Chador,which is a traditional islamic covering. Proposal Title:A kiss on Leyli's navel.(The birth,life and death of an Iranian woman) I would like to e ...
This is a work that emphasizes on telling the life story of an Iranian woman through the use of the Chador,which is a traditional islamic covering. Proposal Title:A kiss on Leyli's navel.(The birth,life and death of an Iranian woman) I would like to e ...
W3504
11.05.2011
Global Culture - ALBERTO LICANDRO
WWW
Image 1: 1000mt highrise tower on 1 column with 52 steel cables around its supporting structure visible from street level to 500mt up, where the first of its 68 floors for restaurant space (20 floors), office space (30 floors) and living space (18 floors) ...
Image 1: 1000mt highrise tower on 1 column with 52 steel cables around its supporting structure visible from street level to 500mt up, where the first of its 68 floors for restaurant space (20 floors), office space (30 floors) and living space (18 floors) ...
W5165
25.09.2012
A Patent Application For An Artificial Imagination - Peter Stott
WWW
A description of a method for computers to create an artificial imagination of a 3D world for typography and any other 2D shape or any conglomeration of 2D shapes, incorporating 3D meshes for the creation of architectonic visions, including animated visio ...
A description of a method for computers to create an artificial imagination of a 3D world for typography and any other 2D shape or any conglomeration of 2D shapes, incorporating 3D meshes for the creation of architectonic visions, including animated visio ...
W4250
24.05.2011
sara stites
WWW
I started these continuous drawings on paper and would like to realize the flow of life's continuum that these represent in a space either outside or in with vast walls so that they could interact with the architecture to fulfill the concept of a never-e ...
I started these continuous drawings on paper and would like to realize the flow of life's continuum that these represent in a space either outside or in with vast walls so that they could interact with the architecture to fulfill the concept of a never-e ...
W4653
25.05.2011
Replacing the stream‐of‐consciousness - urssa severa
WWW
Replacing the stream‐of‐consciousness by Urssa Severa “Welcome, O life, I go to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race.” Inspired by this declaratio ...
Replacing the stream‐of‐consciousness by Urssa Severa “Welcome, O life, I go to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race.” Inspired by this declaratio ...
W4478
25.05.2011
Carlos Aranda Márquez
WWW
What does it mean Estados Unidos Mexicanos? I always wanted to form a drawing of Oaxaca, the state where I was born,with members of the Red Soviet Army singing Canción Mixteca, a song I assumed it was composed by Ricardo Flores Magón, while in prison, t ...
What does it mean Estados Unidos Mexicanos? I always wanted to form a drawing of Oaxaca, the state where I was born,with members of the Red Soviet Army singing Canción Mixteca, a song I assumed it was composed by Ricardo Flores Magón, while in prison, t ...
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 ...
W4064
23.05.2011
BACK TO BASICS - Marianne Nassuno
WWW
The Art project being presented is meant to react against the former commented ‘technologysation’ of art trend. It wants to speak and reach the Man of the street. Art Project BACK TO BASICS Bring Art back to where once it belonged Duchamp’s ...
The Art project being presented is meant to react against the former commented ‘technologysation’ of art trend. It wants to speak and reach the Man of the street. Art Project BACK TO BASICS Bring Art back to where once it belonged Duchamp’s ...
W3866
19.05.2011
LABOR OF OTHERS - Donald Shambroom
WWW
The Labor of Others' is a sculptural project that places itself in the whirlpool of intellectual property rights questions. In this series the acts of conceiving and fabricating the work of art are removed from me, the artist. I have utilized, or stole ...
The Labor of Others' is a sculptural project that places itself in the whirlpool of intellectual property rights questions. In this series the acts of conceiving and fabricating the work of art are removed from me, the artist. I have utilized, or stole ...
W4429
25.05.2011
The Snow Leopard Garden - Yutaka Sone
WWW
Yutaka Sone The Snow Leopard Garden Project for the wood of sculptures of Vassivière island, France July 2009 In the meadow, in the front of the Centre international d’art et du paysage and the dam In the framework of his solo exhibition for t ...
Yutaka Sone The Snow Leopard Garden Project for the wood of sculptures of Vassivière island, France July 2009 In the meadow, in the front of the Centre international d’art et du paysage and the dam In the framework of his solo exhibition for t ...
W4661
25.05.2011
"Panic Eternal" - David Hanes
WWW
"Panic Eternal", Single Channel Video Projection Loop, 16:00, 2011 Panic Eternal is a projection artwork that plays with both the emotional and visual stimuli of a viewer in its emphasizing of slapstick found in cinematic parody. Using found footage (f ...
"Panic Eternal", Single Channel Video Projection Loop, 16:00, 2011 Panic Eternal is a projection artwork that plays with both the emotional and visual stimuli of a viewer in its emphasizing of slapstick found in cinematic parody. Using found footage (f ...
W4346
24.05.2011
Sane Jung
WWW
Through my art, I can go fishing, I can eat burgers, I can play with balls, I can go to the sea and go to mountain. I can meet people and talk to people, I can see the sky and I can see the moon. How gorgeous it is and what a wonderful, exciting privilege ...
Through my art, I can go fishing, I can eat burgers, I can play with balls, I can go to the sea and go to mountain. I can meet people and talk to people, I can see the sky and I can see the moon. How gorgeous it is and what a wonderful, exciting privilege ...
W11076
07.04.2016
Temple of Modern Virtue - Vilja Achté
WWW
My work revolves around the relevance of the intentionally incomplete state as a method of production in art and design practice. The term itself is an adaptation of the Renaissance term ‘non-finito’, which quite literally means ‘not finished’, an ...
My work revolves around the relevance of the intentionally incomplete state as a method of production in art and design practice. The term itself is an adaptation of the Renaissance term ‘non-finito’, which quite literally means ‘not finished’, an ...
W3975
21.05.2011
From Cancer to Cosmos - Peter Briggs
WWW
My project forms a link between the subterranean, a rarely explored urban space, and the five principal stars of a particular constellation, Cancer. In a nutshell the idea is to construct an underground network linking five manhole covers, the positions o ...
My project forms a link between the subterranean, a rarely explored urban space, and the five principal stars of a particular constellation, Cancer. In a nutshell the idea is to construct an underground network linking five manhole covers, the positions o ...
W3766
18.05.2011
francine LeClercq
WWW
image 1: Exit, local law 26, study for an un-threaded stair. image 2: study for spatial composition of laser levels in exhibition space ...
image 1: Exit, local law 26, study for an un-threaded stair. image 2: study for spatial composition of laser levels in exhibition space ...
W3595
13.05.2011
A Year of Tomorrows - Heman Chong
WWW
A Year of Tomorrows is a large scale public art work that will occur in New York over the time span of a year. 365 science fiction films will be selected and screened over 365 days over 365 locations in the city. In a nutshell, the project is formulated a ...
A Year of Tomorrows is a large scale public art work that will occur in New York over the time span of a year. 365 science fiction films will be selected and screened over 365 days over 365 locations in the city. In a nutshell, the project is formulated a ...
W3934
20.05.2011
No Vacancy 2008 - ANNA LASCARI
WWW
“No Vacancy” is a multi-layer installation. It has obvious references to Led Zeppelin’s song “Stairway to Heaven,” to crystal utopias of fairy tales and to the stairways of Louise Bourgeois, which lead to dark attics. ...
“No Vacancy” is a multi-layer installation. It has obvious references to Led Zeppelin’s song “Stairway to Heaven,” to crystal utopias of fairy tales and to the stairways of Louise Bourgeois, which lead to dark attics. ...