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.

The World Record - General Idea

PROPOSALl + VOORSTEL - Guillame Bijl

Unbetitelt, Gänse-Projekt + Noch unbetitelt , " Durch den Mund sehen " + Kartoffeln  - Carsten Holler

Why New Worlds Conceived by Artists Do Not Get Built - Peter Fend

Financial Times Millennium Bridge Competition - Richard Serra and Frank Gehry

Electronic Theater - Laurie Anderson

Grand Concours International D'Architecture  - Mahe Gilles

Theater der Leere - Werner Ruhnau and Yves Klein

Temple of the western buddha (1971 Kathmedu) - Herman de Vries

2 Architecture Towers - Robert Irwin

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W5046
03.09.2012
Hegel's Lecture - Robert Linsley
WWW
Unrealized film proposal of 1997 entitled "Hegel's Lecture" OUTLINE FOR A FILM: HEGEL’S LECTURE Storyline: The door of the lecture hall opens and the camera enters over the shoulder of a student. We see the face of the doorman standing inside brief ...
Unrealized film proposal of 1997 entitled "Hegel's Lecture" OUTLINE FOR A FILM: HEGEL’S LECTURE Storyline: The door of the lecture hall opens and the camera enters over the shoulder of a student. We see the face of the doorman standing inside brief ...
W4958
20.08.2012
Fish Food Living - Eugene Soler
WWW
Fish Food Living By Eugene Soler AUP Submission Three-quarters of the world’s ocean is over fished and with food prices soaring and energy resource depleting, we are constantly living in a society where our food resource is unsustainable, unaffor ...
Fish Food Living By Eugene Soler AUP Submission Three-quarters of the world’s ocean is over fished and with food prices soaring and energy resource depleting, we are constantly living in a society where our food resource is unsustainable, unaffor ...
U9864
01.01.1992
Post Photographic apparatus - Steven Pippin
Unbuilt Roads
Description: The impetus came from , or was initially inspired by the endless stream of monotonous images created by the exponential growth in the amount of photographic apparatus. In an effort to counteract this mediocre use of such a powerfull medium ...
Description: The impetus came from , or was initially inspired by the endless stream of monotonous images created by the exponential growth in the amount of photographic apparatus. In an effort to counteract this mediocre use of such a powerfull medium ...
W5904
18.10.2013
Watertower Geldern (Germany) - Matthijs Muller
WWW
The idea was to give this former water tower a bright icecap on top, which would have changed its appearance dramatically, making it look more like an alp. Bringing the water, which used to be stored inside the tower, to the outside, illustrates its (form ...
The idea was to give this former water tower a bright icecap on top, which would have changed its appearance dramatically, making it look more like an alp. Bringing the water, which used to be stored inside the tower, to the outside, illustrates its (form ...
W5016
30.08.2012
TOTEM WAR - WHEN ARCHITECTURE BECOMES RIVAL CLANS’ BATTLEFIELD - Martial MARQUET
WWW
TOTEM WAR - WHEN ARCHITECTURE BECOMES RIVAL CLANS’ BATTLEFIELD autors : Louisa Gouesnard, Martial Marquet, Nicolas Polaert. date : Jan 2011 Place : Sliznevo, RUSSIA. Dimensions : variables Materials : Wood/Steel What is happening in Sliznevo ? ...
TOTEM WAR - WHEN ARCHITECTURE BECOMES RIVAL CLANS’ BATTLEFIELD autors : Louisa Gouesnard, Martial Marquet, Nicolas Polaert. date : Jan 2011 Place : Sliznevo, RUSSIA. Dimensions : variables Materials : Wood/Steel What is happening in Sliznevo ? ...
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 ...
W4053
22.05.2011
Project: (where nothing ever happens) - leo Morrissey
WWW
A mobile fundamentalist billboards advertises the “judgment day” May 21, 2011…when the chosen will be taken up to “heaven”…sinners not going to heaven will be left behind on earth. As a none believer I have always professed that no “god” ...
A mobile fundamentalist billboards advertises the “judgment day” May 21, 2011…when the chosen will be taken up to “heaven”…sinners not going to heaven will be left behind on earth. As a none believer I have always professed that no “god” ...
W5008
30.08.2012
And the Girls with their Roller Skates - Julia Brodauf
WWW
"And the Girls with their Roller Skates" was a proposal to do an installation in combination with an edition at the Heizkraftwerk Moabit in Berlin where Vatenfall sometimes shows art exhibitions. While the edition was accepted an will be realised in octob ...
"And the Girls with their Roller Skates" was a proposal to do an installation in combination with an edition at the Heizkraftwerk Moabit in Berlin where Vatenfall sometimes shows art exhibitions. While the edition was accepted an will be realised in octob ...
W5118
18.09.2012
Sheida Lavasani
WWW
Often while traveling with a camera I arrive just as the sun slips over the horizon of a moment, too late to expose film, only time enough to expose my hearts. I love people photography. I believe, There are always two people in every picture: the photog ...
Often while traveling with a camera I arrive just as the sun slips over the horizon of a moment, too late to expose film, only time enough to expose my hearts. I love people photography. I believe, There are always two people in every picture: the photog ...
W5309
17.10.2012
Believe Me, It’s not for Real - 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. Description: This project is to dress the entire serpentine Gallery in circus tents and invite visitors to be hyp ...
This project is to dress the entire serpentine Gallery in circus tents and invite visitors to be hypnotised to experience a false memory. Description: This project is to dress the entire serpentine Gallery in circus tents and invite visitors to be hyp ...
W3769
18.05.2011
The Twitstat Project - Renee Zepeda and Chris Weige
WWW
The Twitstat Project exists as a collaborative book of poetry, which we envisioned to be the script for a film. It involves a young Japanese-American woman, a middle-aged German-American man, and a young Jewish-American woman. ...
The Twitstat Project exists as a collaborative book of poetry, which we envisioned to be the script for a film. It involves a young Japanese-American woman, a middle-aged German-American man, and a young Jewish-American woman. ...
U9941
01.01.1993
No title, as the project only reached proposal stage - Rikrit Tiravanija
Unbuilt Roads
Proposal No. 1 (a) In the exhibition space, in proximation (as precisely as possible) to actual space. Replicate (Reconstruct) in architectural scale, space and in specific: detail, the office of the director of the museum. (b) All contents (in deta ...
Proposal No. 1 (a) In the exhibition space, in proximation (as precisely as possible) to actual space. Replicate (Reconstruct) in architectural scale, space and in specific: detail, the office of the director of the museum. (b) All contents (in deta ...
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 ...
W5053
03.09.2012
Parish in Buztintxuri  - Taller Basico de Arquitectura [TBA]
WWW
Parish in Buztintxuri (2011) The building is principally developed on the ground floor. Functional issues make necessary to emerge a second level in the central area. This space contains technical spaces. The building is functionally differentiated ...
Parish in Buztintxuri (2011) The building is principally developed on the ground floor. Functional issues make necessary to emerge a second level in the central area. This space contains technical spaces. The building is functionally differentiated ...
U10002
01.01.1989
La Guerra De Los Simbolos - Victor Grippo
Unbuilt Roads
Una larga mesa, no necesariamente recta adaptada a las condiciones del espacio de exhibición, de 30 cm de ancho y longitud variable sobre la que estarà una larga "maqueta" construida con yeso blanco, de "paisa jes" urbanos conteniedo, edificios y simbol ...
Una larga mesa, no necesariamente recta adaptada a las condiciones del espacio de exhibición, de 30 cm de ancho y longitud variable sobre la que estarà una larga "maqueta" construida con yeso blanco, de "paisa jes" urbanos conteniedo, edificios y simbol ...
W4329
24.05.2011
Nicolau Tudela
WWW
This unfinished work was an installation based on the deficiency of the author. The base of the conception was in fact his right arm and it would reflect the, some what, painful and discomfort feelings that the author felt and feels about and with it. The ...
This unfinished work was an installation based on the deficiency of the author. The base of the conception was in fact his right arm and it would reflect the, some what, painful and discomfort feelings that the author felt and feels about and with it. The ...
W3701
17.05.2011
Taxonomy of Aborted Ideas - Mariángeles Soto-Díaz
WWW
"Taxonomy of Aborted Ideas" is both a standalone work and a classification system inspired by Jorge Luis Borges' Chinese Encyclopedia and Michel Foucault's The Order of Things. Aborted ideas are part of the topography of unrealized projects, but unlike un ...
"Taxonomy of Aborted Ideas" is both a standalone work and a classification system inspired by Jorge Luis Borges' Chinese Encyclopedia and Michel Foucault's The Order of Things. Aborted ideas are part of the topography of unrealized projects, but unlike un ...
W4070
23.05.2011
Rebeka Bučinel
WWW
The leading idea is not to create only a new home for culture in Miren, but to create a multi-purpose central square. ...
The leading idea is not to create only a new home for culture in Miren, but to create a multi-purpose central square. ...
W3957
20.05.2011
Chain Link Fence - Michael Arata
WWW
Chain Link Fence(space between) Graphite and paint on diamond shapes made of styrofoam and masking tape. The Chain Link Fence project represents the negative space between the wires that make up the steel fence material. The diamond shapes are some tim ...
Chain Link Fence(space between) Graphite and paint on diamond shapes made of styrofoam and masking tape. The Chain Link Fence project represents the negative space between the wires that make up the steel fence material. The diamond shapes are some tim ...
W4850
08.08.2012
Confluence - Michael Morgan
WWW
"Confluence", five carved and glazed brick columns set in a green space next to a bus terminal in Philadelphia PA. They synthesize various aspects of the area. One of five shortlisted proposals for South Eastern Pennsylvania Transit.... Cheltenham Ogon ...
"Confluence", five carved and glazed brick columns set in a green space next to a bus terminal in Philadelphia PA. They synthesize various aspects of the area. One of five shortlisted proposals for South Eastern Pennsylvania Transit.... Cheltenham Ogon ...
W4235
24.05.2011
STRESS - Fred Perie
WWW
STRESS is fictitious industrial construction, whose only aim is to draw a perfectly straight red line that strikes through a wide landscape on the banks of Loire river estuary. It is drawn over 2 km between an oil refinery and some isolated grove, where i ...
STRESS is fictitious industrial construction, whose only aim is to draw a perfectly straight red line that strikes through a wide landscape on the banks of Loire river estuary. It is drawn over 2 km between an oil refinery and some isolated grove, where i ...
W3629
14.05.2011
Central Park Monument to the Nimbus of Victory, 2009 - Peter Joslyn
WWW
The monument is one of a series of proposals for large scale public sculptures to celebrate the visionary nature of the artist. The aim is to bring to the world an understanding of the artists point of view by providing the spectacular, and by sharing the ...
The monument is one of a series of proposals for large scale public sculptures to celebrate the visionary nature of the artist. The aim is to bring to the world an understanding of the artists point of view by providing the spectacular, and by sharing the ...
W5168
25.09.2012
Interviews with Germans - Grace Schwindt
WWW
In 2010 I went to New York to conduct interviews with eleven Germans, who live there. They include two writers, two visual artists, an electrician, a gynaecologist, an historian, a musician, a receptionist, a social worker, a diplomat. Grace Schwindt 1 ...
In 2010 I went to New York to conduct interviews with eleven Germans, who live there. They include two writers, two visual artists, an electrician, a gynaecologist, an historian, a musician, a receptionist, a social worker, a diplomat. Grace Schwindt 1 ...
W3692
16.05.2011
The Rings - Alastair Noble & Kathy Bruce
WWW
Alastair Noble & Kathy Bruce 2010 Project Title - The Rings – Intent: To create an iconic and poetic symbol that will represent Lancaster, The Poetry Paths Project and the history, culture and diverse peoples of Lancaster. Summary: A sculpture ...
Alastair Noble & Kathy Bruce 2010 Project Title - The Rings – Intent: To create an iconic and poetic symbol that will represent Lancaster, The Poetry Paths Project and the history, culture and diverse peoples of Lancaster. Summary: A sculpture ...
W4307
24.05.2011
The War Of The Worlds (South Africa) - James Webb
WWW
The War Of The Worlds (South Africa) I have been developing the following unrealised project: to create a radio announcement that takes Orson Welles’s infamous 1938 broadcast, “The War Of The Worlds,” as a starting point, re-imagining the concept ...
The War Of The Worlds (South Africa) I have been developing the following unrealised project: to create a radio announcement that takes Orson Welles’s infamous 1938 broadcast, “The War Of The Worlds,” as a starting point, re-imagining the concept ...