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.

Entwurf für einen erneuerten Malkasten 1992 - 1994 - Ulrike Holthöfer

Prima del 73 - Fabio Mauri

Monumento all'agricoltura 1969-70 - Alighiero Boetti

Jake and Dinos Chapman's five proposals for an empty plinth situated on central londons trafalgar square - Jake and Dinos Chapman

The insurer - Fabrice Hybert

Isometric Projection - Sol Lewitt

City Hall Tower Night Ilumination - Krysztof Wodiczko

Memorial - Ilya Kabakov

Dog Jaw Monument - A Futurist Tele-introject - Leon Golub

Post Photographic apparatus - Steven Pippin

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
#
Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
D10830
01.01.2008
Beautiful Neons: Gazda - Paulina Olowska
DAAD
In 2008 I had established an unofficial society called " Beautiful Neons" we have about 10 unofficial friends and members. Our aim is to collect material on the art of neons and the remains of it. When we think there is a chance of renovation a particular ...
In 2008 I had established an unofficial society called " Beautiful Neons" we have about 10 unofficial friends and members. Our aim is to collect material on the art of neons and the remains of it. When we think there is a chance of renovation a particular ...
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 ...
W4376
25.05.2011
Dreams of Little Nemo  - MICHEL GERARD
WWW
Dreams of Little Nemo is a public sculpture about a personage in a comic book that I read as a child during the Second World War in occupied Paris. Little Nemo in Slumberland is a book about a scared small boy with whom I identified completely. He was ...
Dreams of Little Nemo is a public sculpture about a personage in a comic book that I read as a child during the Second World War in occupied Paris. Little Nemo in Slumberland is a book about a scared small boy with whom I identified completely. He was ...
W5185
30.09.2012
White Cube Research - Pascal Unbehaun
WWW
WHITE CUBE RESEARCH aims to set up a full operative institute for theoretical research in an exhibition context. The researchers are asked to gather in a small building, the white cube (or just in an office-like setup) inside an art exhibition. ...
WHITE CUBE RESEARCH aims to set up a full operative institute for theoretical research in an exhibition context. The researchers are asked to gather in a small building, the white cube (or just in an office-like setup) inside an art exhibition. ...
W4914
14.08.2012
Possible Areas of Joint Action - Alec Steadman
WWW
The Experimental Art Action group present: Possible Areas of Joint Action A “Due to an electrical fault at the enlightenment gallery…” production 01/01/2013 - 01/01/2014 For the period of 1 year, beginning at midnight on the 01/01/2013 and e ...
The Experimental Art Action group present: Possible Areas of Joint Action A “Due to an electrical fault at the enlightenment gallery…” production 01/01/2013 - 01/01/2014 For the period of 1 year, beginning at midnight on the 01/01/2013 and e ...
W5444
20.10.2012
The Ghost Room - Veronika Gorelik
WWW
27 crates 6 tones of amber--13000 pounds 10 years to construct baroque music-bach It is around 8 evening--precisely when all black tie art and social events start around a metropolitan city. Not unlike any of these type of events -many people gather ...
27 crates 6 tones of amber--13000 pounds 10 years to construct baroque music-bach It is around 8 evening--precisely when all black tie art and social events start around a metropolitan city. Not unlike any of these type of events -many people gather ...
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 ...
W4998
30.08.2012
Lesley Scott Reid
WWW
a project to create images - icons - that represent choices open to a person not get HIV. Each image was to be inserted in one arm bandit machine and be photographed - each line of 4 images coming up being a winner. This work is in archive - if it i ...
a project to create images - icons - that represent choices open to a person not get HIV. Each image was to be inserted in one arm bandit machine and be photographed - each line of 4 images coming up being a winner. This work is in archive - if it i ...
W4656
25.05.2011
SELF-INDULGENT NATIONS  - Silvia Pereira
WWW
SILVIA PEREIRA Public art installation to be presented in World fairs. SELF-INDULGENT NATIONS This art piece presents groups of monumental flags of all nations in public space, ripped by the simulated weather effects of erosion. The decayed look of ...
SILVIA PEREIRA Public art installation to be presented in World fairs. SELF-INDULGENT NATIONS This art piece presents groups of monumental flags of all nations in public space, ripped by the simulated weather effects of erosion. The decayed look of ...
W4289
24.05.2011
Mouse Trap - Carla Bengtson
WWW
Mouse Trap 9 days, 9 baits, 2010 Digital print with raisin, peanut butter, cranberry, peanut butter, cheese, and crackers in artist’s studio at Ucross Foundation, Wyoming ...
Mouse Trap 9 days, 9 baits, 2010 Digital print with raisin, peanut butter, cranberry, peanut butter, cheese, and crackers in artist’s studio at Ucross Foundation, Wyoming ...
W10927
20.06.2015
If all the waves can be saved - Yifei He
WWW
One room, one chair with endless waves. I want to put waves into one space, it will end at the middle of the space, put one chair towards the waves . People can not step twice into the same river, and people also can not meet the very same two waves. ...
One room, one chair with endless waves. I want to put waves into one space, it will end at the middle of the space, put one chair towards the waves . People can not step twice into the same river, and people also can not meet the very same two waves. ...
W4614
25.05.2011
Art Forum - Cornford & Cross
WWW
Review of Unrealized projects by Cornford & Cross Rachel Withers Art Forum Jan 2003 ...
Review of Unrealized projects by Cornford & Cross Rachel Withers Art Forum Jan 2003 ...
W3589
13.05.2011
Failed Music Store - Luke Munn
WWW
Work Description: In this proposed project for Watermans, 1000 bargain bin CDs are purchased and made available to visitors to browse, playback and take-away if they wish. Rather than a constantly updated library of the latest hits, these albums are the ...
Work Description: In this proposed project for Watermans, 1000 bargain bin CDs are purchased and made available to visitors to browse, playback and take-away if they wish. Rather than a constantly updated library of the latest hits, these albums are the ...
W4582
25.05.2011
Three Genetic Drifts  - David Brooks
WWW
Three Genetic Drifts wooden boardwalk, pedestrian tree (ficus benjamina or equivalent) anchored in concrete planter, crane and hoisting equipment Dimensions variable [proposal for London parking garage] Boardwalks are user-friendly infrastructures that ...
Three Genetic Drifts wooden boardwalk, pedestrian tree (ficus benjamina or equivalent) anchored in concrete planter, crane and hoisting equipment Dimensions variable [proposal for London parking garage] Boardwalks are user-friendly infrastructures that ...
W3868
19.05.2011
“The Good, The Bad, The Now” 350 word FRANKLIN FURNACE proposal - Chris Twomey
WWW
Using narrative structure that will engage potential viewers through the drama of the visual story telling, my project is essentially a visual memoir and performance piece with words. Using pre-determined amount of time, for instance 3 months, I will pub ...
Using narrative structure that will engage potential viewers through the drama of the visual story telling, my project is essentially a visual memoir and performance piece with words. Using pre-determined amount of time, for instance 3 months, I will pub ...
W4545
25.05.2011
Missing/Vermisst/Scomparso  - Matteo Peterlini
WWW
Missing/Vermisst/Scomparso Abstract This work is intended as an analysis and a representation of the psychosocial aspects raised by the phenomenon of missing people in contemporary cities. The question guiding my project entails the nature of the miss ...
Missing/Vermisst/Scomparso Abstract This work is intended as an analysis and a representation of the psychosocial aspects raised by the phenomenon of missing people in contemporary cities. The question guiding my project entails the nature of the miss ...
W5284
16.10.2012
Natalia Ludmila
WWW
The project was based on the realisation of a certain number of dérives throughout the city-state of Singapore, in which an extensive visual and sound documentation would be carried out. This material consecutively was to be used to reconstruct the ci ...
The project was based on the realisation of a certain number of dérives throughout the city-state of Singapore, in which an extensive visual and sound documentation would be carried out. This material consecutively was to be used to reconstruct the ci ...
W10296
01.01.2010
Industrial Park - Héctor Zamora
WWW
Industrial Park was proposed for 'Touched' the 6th Liverpool Biennial, 2010 Proposed to take place in the Liverpool docks area where new developments are replacing the old port and industry buildings, it is a large scale permanent intervention based on ...
Industrial Park was proposed for 'Touched' the 6th Liverpool Biennial, 2010 Proposed to take place in the Liverpool docks area where new developments are replacing the old port and industry buildings, it is a large scale permanent intervention based on ...
W5075
05.09.2012
Nico Dockx
WWW
"Since I first met with Hans Ulrich Obrist on 15.03.2002 in his office at the Musée d'Art moderne de la ville de Paris -talking together about new kinds of slowness…- we tried for almost 10 years to go and visit the Greek filmmaker Theo Angelopoulos at ...
"Since I first met with Hans Ulrich Obrist on 15.03.2002 in his office at the Musée d'Art moderne de la ville de Paris -talking together about new kinds of slowness…- we tried for almost 10 years to go and visit the Greek filmmaker Theo Angelopoulos at ...
W5459
20.10.2012
Temporary Projection Installations for the Survivors of Atrocities. - Gavin Halm
WWW
Summary: Listings of the names of survivors (and their extended families through the present) are projected upon the walls and surrounding grounds of sites where atrocities have taken, or are currently taking, place. The thousands of names could be projec ...
Summary: Listings of the names of survivors (and their extended families through the present) are projected upon the walls and surrounding grounds of sites where atrocities have taken, or are currently taking, place. The thousands of names could be projec ...
W5037
01.09.2012
Cultivating the Field of the Absurd - Barbara Nemitz
WWW
Title: " Cultivating the Field of the Absurd" The work is to be made in the landscape. In an open part with a large plain - some shrubberies and trees may be around - an extensive embroidery is to be seen on the ground. It is made out of silky shimmer ...
Title: " Cultivating the Field of the Absurd" The work is to be made in the landscape. In an open part with a large plain - some shrubberies and trees may be around - an extensive embroidery is to be seen on the ground. It is made out of silky shimmer ...
W4497
25.05.2011
“Oil spill La Fenice” - KilMor Prod.
WWW
“Oil spill La Fenice” by KilMor Prod. La Fenice Teatro La Fenice is the biggest opera house in Venice, Italy and one of the most famous theatres in Europe. “La Fenice” means “The Phoenix”. A phoenix is a mythical bird that is a fire spir ...
“Oil spill La Fenice” by KilMor Prod. La Fenice Teatro La Fenice is the biggest opera house in Venice, Italy and one of the most famous theatres in Europe. “La Fenice” means “The Phoenix”. A phoenix is a mythical bird that is a fire spir ...
W4273
24.05.2011
Hector Zamora
WWW
W5206
03.10.2012
12 x 12 - Georgia Kotretsos
WWW
Originally submitted to the 12 x 12 Project Space at the MCA in Chicago in 2003/04. The submitted images are showing the model book made for the demonstrative needs of the project. The size of the model book is H 6 x W 4,5 x 1, 5 cm and it pops-up /unfol ...
Originally submitted to the 12 x 12 Project Space at the MCA in Chicago in 2003/04. The submitted images are showing the model book made for the demonstrative needs of the project. The size of the model book is H 6 x W 4,5 x 1, 5 cm and it pops-up /unfol ...
W4068
23.05.2011
Alishia Duncanson
WWW
Title: “Mission Impossible 1” Materials: Wood and M.D.F board Corridor space containing 5- 20 drawings in space, creating semi obstructed spaces to be engaged with by the viewer. The work asks the viewer to investigate both space and time as each ...
Title: “Mission Impossible 1” Materials: Wood and M.D.F board Corridor space containing 5- 20 drawings in space, creating semi obstructed spaces to be engaged with by the viewer. The work asks the viewer to investigate both space and time as each ...
W4297
24.05.2011
WRAPPED MOON PROJECT - Reynard Loki
WWW
WRAPPED MOON PROJECT An Unrealized Project by Reynard Loki http://wrappedmoonproject.blogspot.com/ BACKGROUND On February 16, 1998, using the pseudonym of Red Q. Nary, I sent out the following e-mail to Woody Smith, the Curator of website of t ...
WRAPPED MOON PROJECT An Unrealized Project by Reynard Loki http://wrappedmoonproject.blogspot.com/ BACKGROUND On February 16, 1998, using the pseudonym of Red Q. Nary, I sent out the following e-mail to Woody Smith, the Curator of website of t ...