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.

Memorial - Ilya Kabakov

2 Architecture Towers - Robert Irwin

KEEPING IN TOUCH - Allan Kaprow

Milan House (AC/DC & Joy Division) - Liam Gillick

654 THINGS from The United States - Edward Ruscha

Tower Cranes, Paris  - Tadashi Kawamata

MAK - Wien  - Rosemarie Trockel

Making for Art - 100 Unsucceeded Presentation - 1995, 1996,  - Yutaka Sone

AUSSICHTSTURM, HOLZHAUS (WOHNHAUS), SCHWIMMBECKEN, FREIE FAHRT - Maria Eichhorn

Engel-Detektor - Jakob Gautel & Jason Karaïndros

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
#
Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W4719
26.05.2011
We Might Be Snowmakers - Glacial Risk Management Institute (GRMI): Angela Ellsworth and Leigh McCarthy
WWW
Glacial Risk Management Institute (GRMI): Angela Ellsworth and Leigh McCarthy Title: We Might Be Snowmakers In order to slow or reverse the retreat of glaciers, the GRMI proposes setting up large-scale snow blowers to increase the size of Europe’s la ...
Glacial Risk Management Institute (GRMI): Angela Ellsworth and Leigh McCarthy Title: We Might Be Snowmakers In order to slow or reverse the retreat of glaciers, the GRMI proposes setting up large-scale snow blowers to increase the size of Europe’s la ...
W5136
19.09.2012
Cormac McCarthy Searching - Rick Martin
WWW
CORMAC McCARTHY SEARCHING In the winter of 1999 I was artist in residence at BEMIS CCA in Omaha Nebraska. I travelled to El Paso to meet the writer Cormac McCarthy, The WWW informed me he ate breakfast at Furrs every day. At Furrs I was told they didn't. ...
CORMAC McCARTHY SEARCHING In the winter of 1999 I was artist in residence at BEMIS CCA in Omaha Nebraska. I travelled to El Paso to meet the writer Cormac McCarthy, The WWW informed me he ate breakfast at Furrs every day. At Furrs I was told they didn't. ...
W4615
25.05.2011
Tia-Simone Gardner
WWW
The project that I am working on is a more involved video project, developed out of an installation of stills, that will re-narrate, and re-edit, Ousmane Sembene's 1966 film 'La noire de.' I began the ground work for this project over a year ago while thi ...
The project that I am working on is a more involved video project, developed out of an installation of stills, that will re-narrate, and re-edit, Ousmane Sembene's 1966 film 'La noire de.' I began the ground work for this project over a year ago while thi ...
W5159
24.09.2012
The DECISION is yours - Taša Turk
WWW
»The DECISION is yours« »The DECISION is yours« is an unrealized project. The idea was created in 2009 as a response to what was happening in society and on the planet. The main thought of the project was to remind the observer of how important a ...
»The DECISION is yours« »The DECISION is yours« is an unrealized project. The idea was created in 2009 as a response to what was happening in society and on the planet. The main thought of the project was to remind the observer of how important a ...
W3939
20.05.2011
R. Marcos Mota
WWW
DESCRIPTION The project consists of built inside the Civic Centre Sant Andreu a toilet for the disabled who do not meet standards of accessibility measures.

 It will build a separate room of existing toilets within the Civic Center that the dynamics ...
DESCRIPTION The project consists of built inside the Civic Centre Sant Andreu a toilet for the disabled who do not meet standards of accessibility measures.

 It will build a separate room of existing toilets within the Civic Center that the dynamics ...
W5121
18.09.2012
Mo White
WWW
In 2009 I made a film whose completion has been continually postponed. I made the film quickly with materials to hand, in Super 8 format. The making of the work was an immediate reaction and response to a small event. ‘In March 2009 I bought a lime ...
In 2009 I made a film whose completion has been continually postponed. I made the film quickly with materials to hand, in Super 8 format. The making of the work was an immediate reaction and response to a small event. ‘In March 2009 I bought a lime ...
W3832
19.05.2011
YKB : NYC Yves Klein Blue : A New York City Road. - Jeff Wood
WWW
" felt only night within me and it was then that I conceived the new art. " Kazimir Malevich YKB : NYC is a feature length art-film proposal in which 2 art-handlers driving a truck in New York city experience the city as a grand artwork while the ...
" felt only night within me and it was then that I conceived the new art. " Kazimir Malevich YKB : NYC is a feature length art-film proposal in which 2 art-handlers driving a truck in New York city experience the city as a grand artwork while the ...
W4331
24.05.2011
PROJECT FOR EXCHANGE RADICAL MOMENTS - Andrew Stooke
WWW
PROJECT FOR EXCHANGE RADICAL MOMENTS While small shops, owned by large organisations, are closed for modernisation the staff are invited to collectively participate in a free visit to the Library at Alexandria. The visit only takes place if all staff, ...
PROJECT FOR EXCHANGE RADICAL MOMENTS While small shops, owned by large organisations, are closed for modernisation the staff are invited to collectively participate in a free visit to the Library at Alexandria. The visit only takes place if all staff, ...
W4340
24.05.2011
Violin making; the neck or ‘chiver’ of the saxophone made of porcelain; will ceramic sound different? - Cristina Cambiganu
WWW
Violin making; the neck or ‘chiver’ of the saxophone made of porcelain; will ceramic sound different? The idea, which has been in my drawer of dreams for over 10 years, intend to insert a graft on the saxophone. Precisely, the project intended to r ...
Violin making; the neck or ‘chiver’ of the saxophone made of porcelain; will ceramic sound different? The idea, which has been in my drawer of dreams for over 10 years, intend to insert a graft on the saxophone. Precisely, the project intended to r ...
W5255
11.10.2012
Michael Schippling
WWW
The proposal is to increase the information content (entropy) of Shannon's original Information Theory paper by shredding and re-compacting it: http://www.etantdonnes.com/proposal/Conceptual%20Information%20Piece.html ...
The proposal is to increase the information content (entropy) of Shannon's original Information Theory paper by shredding and re-compacting it: http://www.etantdonnes.com/proposal/Conceptual%20Information%20Piece.html ...
W10838
13.12.2014
Exterminators - Fani Zguro
WWW
“Mister Dosti” is a project that originates from the literature. In 2010, the Mr. Dosti was finished, and published only in a few copies, as a volume with Albanian stories. The text itself features various types of writings such as: poetry, notes, pro ...
“Mister Dosti” is a project that originates from the literature. In 2010, the Mr. Dosti was finished, and published only in a few copies, as a volume with Albanian stories. The text itself features various types of writings such as: poetry, notes, pro ...
W4952
20.08.2012
made in america asembled in mexico - Paul Valadez
WWW
We will carry pieces of artwork created in Texas into Mexico where we will then hand assemble the work at a yet to be determined rented space. The artwork being brought into Mexico consists of 500 works on wood, metal, paper and other found objects. Th ...
We will carry pieces of artwork created in Texas into Mexico where we will then hand assemble the work at a yet to be determined rented space. The artwork being brought into Mexico consists of 500 works on wood, metal, paper and other found objects. Th ...
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 ...
W5290
16.10.2012
Polo Picasso - Matthew Britton
WWW
After catching the revamped Art Attack series on the Disney Channel, I came across the character ‘Vincent Van Coconut’. I felt that this was a poor parody and wanted to create a better teaching aid. So I built a maquette for a character called ‘Polo ...
After catching the revamped Art Attack series on the Disney Channel, I came across the character ‘Vincent Van Coconut’. I felt that this was a poor parody and wanted to create a better teaching aid. So I built a maquette for a character called ‘Polo ...
W3695
16.05.2011
Vladimar and Rosa (2011) - Anne Colvin
WWW
Vladimar and Rosa (2011) is a fictional dance company created and produced by artist Anne Colvin. Their first production "The Kids Play Russian" will never be realized. A hybrid dance installation influenced by experimental film strategies plays out as f ...
Vladimar and Rosa (2011) is a fictional dance company created and produced by artist Anne Colvin. Their first production "The Kids Play Russian" will never be realized. A hybrid dance installation influenced by experimental film strategies plays out as f ...
W5022
31.08.2012
Hotel Libertas - Peter Friedl
WWW
Hotel Libertas, 2003 Peter Friedl Upon invitation from Catherine David, curating an exhibition for the Museum of Modern Art in Dubrovnik, a series of altogether six lectures and presentations took place in 2002/03. In connection with my stay and lec ...
Hotel Libertas, 2003 Peter Friedl Upon invitation from Catherine David, curating an exhibition for the Museum of Modern Art in Dubrovnik, a series of altogether six lectures and presentations took place in 2002/03. In connection with my stay and lec ...
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 ...
W4628
25.05.2011
The Hackney Flyover - David Cotterrell
WWW
The Hackney Flyover Driving London Forward In 2008 the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) received a long-awaited feasibility study from their cost-consultants, Turner and Townsend Group. While the Olympic site development cost projections were consider ...
The Hackney Flyover Driving London Forward In 2008 the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) received a long-awaited feasibility study from their cost-consultants, Turner and Townsend Group. While the Olympic site development cost projections were consider ...
U9668
21.02.1997
Niemandsland - Hans Haacke
Unbuilt Roads
Eine Kreisfläche von ca. 30m Durchmesser ist auf dem offenen zum Ministerium für Bildung und Wiesenschaft und dem Ministerium für Justiz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland gehörenden ebenen Gelände in Bonn-BadGodesberg zu markieren, wenn möglich auf d ...
Eine Kreisfläche von ca. 30m Durchmesser ist auf dem offenen zum Ministerium für Bildung und Wiesenschaft und dem Ministerium für Justiz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland gehörenden ebenen Gelände in Bonn-BadGodesberg zu markieren, wenn möglich auf d ...
W4620
25.05.2011
Valeska Peschke
WWW
W4214
24.05.2011
Strayed in Schizophrenic Landscapes of a Celibate Machine - Atelier Uraiqat
WWW
Strayed in Schizophrenic Landscapes of a Celibate Machine Atelier Uraiqat Strayed in Schizophrenic Landscapes of a Celibate Machine is the manifestation of the struggle between the desiring individual and controlling society, where desire acts as the ...
Strayed in Schizophrenic Landscapes of a Celibate Machine Atelier Uraiqat Strayed in Schizophrenic Landscapes of a Celibate Machine is the manifestation of the struggle between the desiring individual and controlling society, where desire acts as the ...
W4635
25.05.2011
“Handy Space Bags”  - Valeska Peschke
WWW
“Handy Space Bags” Kafka wrote: "Everyone carries a room about him." Everyone carries a room about him through other rooms. I hope to examine and detect ‘traverse rooms’ . In daily life, moving through the city, the utilities needed are enclos ...
“Handy Space Bags” Kafka wrote: "Everyone carries a room about him." Everyone carries a room about him through other rooms. I hope to examine and detect ‘traverse rooms’ . In daily life, moving through the city, the utilities needed are enclos ...
W4308
24.05.2011
Adam Battestilli
WWW
POEM You view the world Through rose-tinted handsoap In a clear plastic bottle Pressed up against your eye. People ask you why. You sigh, and you reply, Why, it makes everything pink! And helps me rid My fingers of the stink Of ...
POEM You view the world Through rose-tinted handsoap In a clear plastic bottle Pressed up against your eye. People ask you why. You sigh, and you reply, Why, it makes everything pink! And helps me rid My fingers of the stink Of ...
W3983
21.05.2011
The Panajachel Biennial’s Story: A Community Still to Come - Panajachel Biennial
WWW
The Panajachel Biennial was an initiative by a group of young independent curators (Karl Escher, Abbas Ibn Salah al Din, Guillermo Santamarina, Joao Castro da Silva y Takouhi Abesalom) who convened in Panajachel in 2009. The result of this meeting was a p ...
The Panajachel Biennial was an initiative by a group of young independent curators (Karl Escher, Abbas Ibn Salah al Din, Guillermo Santamarina, Joao Castro da Silva y Takouhi Abesalom) who convened in Panajachel in 2009. The result of this meeting was a p ...
W5476
21.10.2012
Roberto Delgado
WWW
Berliner Künstlerprogramm/DAAD 19 Oct 2012 This is a Project Description for the unrealized Los Angeles Police Department Hollenbeck Station Public Art Project RFP. My proposal was for a number of 3’ x 7’ ceramic tile panels mounted on the CMU ...
Berliner Künstlerprogramm/DAAD 19 Oct 2012 This is a Project Description for the unrealized Los Angeles Police Department Hollenbeck Station Public Art Project RFP. My proposal was for a number of 3’ x 7’ ceramic tile panels mounted on the CMU ...
W4529
25.05.2011
Jaime Szczepanski
WWW
In 2006, I initiated a serial photographic project of static, frontal shots of closed storefronts in Paris, along with videos of storekeepers closing their shops. The material was to be amassed and combined in a stroboscopic video montage, tentatively tit ...
In 2006, I initiated a serial photographic project of static, frontal shots of closed storefronts in Paris, along with videos of storekeepers closing their shops. The material was to be amassed and combined in a stroboscopic video montage, tentatively tit ...