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.

Chen H.V.O + G.T. - Bertrand Lavier

Niemandsland - Hans Haacke

Catwalk - Sylive Fleury

A FAIRLY TALL TOWER, 48,000 Miles High -  - Siah Armajani

Attitudine Diplomatica - Hermann Pitz

Passage - Richard Wentworth

Unrealized project for Tate Gallery + ICA, 1969 - Gilbert and George

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

d'un projet dédié aux victimes de la Shoah. - Christian Boltanski

Tulips for Amsterdam - Isa Genzken

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
#
Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W5240
09.10.2012
Stephanie Douet
WWW
Imagine a long, long, long rectangle, rolled up into the smallest tube. Take the end of the rectangle and begin to unfurl it. As it peels open, three small rectangles cut randomly into its surface swing open, at random angles. With no effort of arrangemen ...
Imagine a long, long, long rectangle, rolled up into the smallest tube. Take the end of the rectangle and begin to unfurl it. As it peels open, three small rectangles cut randomly into its surface swing open, at random angles. With no effort of arrangemen ...
W4231
24.05.2011
"Sand Uproar, Sand Glass” - Orit Ishay
WWW
"Sand Uproar, Sand Glass” Orit Ishay Tel-Aviv city, also called "the white city", has recently celebrated a 100 years to its establishment. According to conventional public narrative, this is a city that was raised on pure sands, unlike other place ...
"Sand Uproar, Sand Glass” Orit Ishay Tel-Aviv city, also called "the white city", has recently celebrated a 100 years to its establishment. According to conventional public narrative, this is a city that was raised on pure sands, unlike other place ...
W3534
11.05.2011
Dah Di-dah-dah Dah-dah-dah, Di-dah-di-dit Dah-dah-dah Di-di-di-dah Dit Di-dah-dit Di-di-dit - Stephan Apicella-Hitchcock
WWW
Dah Di-dah-dah Dah-dah-dah, Di-dah-di-dit Dah-dah-dah Di-di-di-dah Dit Di-dah-dit Di-di-dit, 1985 (approx.) – 2011, h 20 cm x w 13 cm (h 8” x w 5”), 82 page pocket book, black and white text pages printed on 60-pound (90g/m2) cream-colored paper, 4- ...
Dah Di-dah-dah Dah-dah-dah, Di-dah-di-dit Dah-dah-dah Di-di-di-dah Dit Di-dah-dit Di-di-dit, 1985 (approx.) – 2011, h 20 cm x w 13 cm (h 8” x w 5”), 82 page pocket book, black and white text pages printed on 60-pound (90g/m2) cream-colored paper, 4- ...
W3628
14.05.2011
Liquid and Interactive Architecture - Duda Valle
WWW
Liquid and Interactive Architecture , 15 seconds of fame - the project consists of LED lights placed in a building that will take any form by an interactive interface that will appear on the pedestrian mobile phone by calling a certain number. ...
Liquid and Interactive Architecture , 15 seconds of fame - the project consists of LED lights placed in a building that will take any form by an interactive interface that will appear on the pedestrian mobile phone by calling a certain number. ...
W3841
19.05.2011
God's ear wax - Janice Perry
WWW
"God's ear wax." Large sculpture for public space. Multiple media. Conceived 2004/2011. Janice Perry. B. 1950. USA. The sculpture is comprised of an extremely large ball of wax (with a very high melting point), 100-500 feet in diameter, dark golden br ...
"God's ear wax." Large sculpture for public space. Multiple media. Conceived 2004/2011. Janice Perry. B. 1950. USA. The sculpture is comprised of an extremely large ball of wax (with a very high melting point), 100-500 feet in diameter, dark golden br ...
W4746
26.05.2011
Freiheits- und Einheitsdenkmal - Rafael Schmidt, RAFAA
WWW
Freiheits- und Einheitsdenkmal Berlin Competition In the autumn of 1989, a growing number of courageous citizens in many cities of the GDR conquered their fear and rose against the totalitarian regime of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED). ...
Freiheits- und Einheitsdenkmal Berlin Competition In the autumn of 1989, a growing number of courageous citizens in many cities of the GDR conquered their fear and rose against the totalitarian regime of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED). ...
U9926
01.01.1997
The Rosetta Garden - Gary Simmons
Unbuilt Roads
In collaboration with Brooklyn Technical High School and Andrea Claire The Rosetta Garden Proposal for a vacant lot, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Gary Simmons' proposal is both a reclamation of vacant land and the physical embodiment of philosophical pu ...
In collaboration with Brooklyn Technical High School and Andrea Claire The Rosetta Garden Proposal for a vacant lot, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Gary Simmons' proposal is both a reclamation of vacant land and the physical embodiment of philosophical pu ...
W4052
22.05.2011
prayer cards - leo Morrissey
WWW
It is a tradition at Catholic funerals to give out prayer cards as a remembrance of the deceased. Over a number of years I have photographed many of these cards. For this project I will install a selection of photos of prayer cards ( the number determin ...
It is a tradition at Catholic funerals to give out prayer cards as a remembrance of the deceased. Over a number of years I have photographed many of these cards. For this project I will install a selection of photos of prayer cards ( the number determin ...
W4097
23.05.2011
Hope to dwell in fear - Prapat Jiwarangsan
WWW
Hope to dwell in fear By Prapat Jiwarangsan My depressive mood, as my psychologist diagnosed, has stemmed from the attempt of my former artwork to heal my country’s social problems, some of which are unjust social classes and restrictions of freed ...
Hope to dwell in fear By Prapat Jiwarangsan My depressive mood, as my psychologist diagnosed, has stemmed from the attempt of my former artwork to heal my country’s social problems, some of which are unjust social classes and restrictions of freed ...
W5411
20.10.2012
Jessica Miller
WWW
I have created a proposal outlining a beautification project beginning in the city of Atlanta. Participants in the agenda sign up to receive locations of seed bomb caches. They can then distribute the seed bombs and log the locations of the bombing.... ...
I have created a proposal outlining a beautification project beginning in the city of Atlanta. Participants in the agenda sign up to receive locations of seed bomb caches. They can then distribute the seed bombs and log the locations of the bombing.... ...
W4288
24.05.2011
ART DISCOURSE BINGO  - Tina Montenegro
WWW
ART DISCOURSE BINGO (Hi)story This project was thought to be carried out during the 28th Biennial of São Paulo [28ª Bienal de São Paulo], in 2008. The concept of this biennial was consolidated only a year before its opening, after many curators had ...
ART DISCOURSE BINGO (Hi)story This project was thought to be carried out during the 28th Biennial of São Paulo [28ª Bienal de São Paulo], in 2008. The concept of this biennial was consolidated only a year before its opening, after many curators had ...
W3792
18.05.2011
TYRE GARDEN - Agnieszka Wolodzko
WWW
Participatory action with a catastrophy in the background. My project is based on an assumption that in future, in result of economic / political / climatic crises, European cities, will surrender to a total degradation and it will gradually get a char ...
Participatory action with a catastrophy in the background. My project is based on an assumption that in future, in result of economic / political / climatic crises, European cities, will surrender to a total degradation and it will gradually get a char ...
W4954
20.08.2012
Urban scape sketch - Marta Fuster Barutell
WWW
Urban scape sketch by Marta Fuster Barutell Site-specific installation composed of a variable amount of boxes. Each box is fabricated with welded 100mm square tube steel to the scale of one cubic metre per box. Opposing faces of the cube should ha ...
Urban scape sketch by Marta Fuster Barutell Site-specific installation composed of a variable amount of boxes. Each box is fabricated with welded 100mm square tube steel to the scale of one cubic metre per box. Opposing faces of the cube should ha ...
W4040
22.05.2011
"vulgariskamer" a nomadic hybrid cabinet of curiosities... - Susana Pinto
WWW
An utopia auto-narrative. Gleaning of “things” became an obsession, not for the anxiety of collecting them but more for the necessity of transforming them. The things or the “vulgaris” ( vulgarity) are gleaned according to specific criteria - p ...
An utopia auto-narrative. Gleaning of “things” became an obsession, not for the anxiety of collecting them but more for the necessity of transforming them. The things or the “vulgaris” ( vulgarity) are gleaned according to specific criteria - p ...
W3948
20.05.2011
¿Che pasa?/Doesn't matter! - Beatrice Crastini
WWW
Project presented to Frieze Committee, year 2009 In any case i think that this project was in advance before of the Italian "bungabunga" scandal. Project: ¿Che pasa?/Doesn't matter! Recession, crisis, war, record price per barrel, unemployment, ...
Project presented to Frieze Committee, year 2009 In any case i think that this project was in advance before of the Italian "bungabunga" scandal. Project: ¿Che pasa?/Doesn't matter! Recession, crisis, war, record price per barrel, unemployment, ...
W5196
02.10.2012
The Installation series of Untitled (Wishes, Lies and Dreams >> Wonderfully Wonderful ...) - Sarawut Chutiwongpeti
WWW
“The Installation series of Untitled (Wishes, Lies and Dreams >> Wonderfully Wonderful ...)” Basic Concept: My goal is to investigate the expressive possibilities of conceptual visual language and to develop Collaborative New Art as part of bot ...
“The Installation series of Untitled (Wishes, Lies and Dreams >> Wonderfully Wonderful ...)” Basic Concept: My goal is to investigate the expressive possibilities of conceptual visual language and to develop Collaborative New Art as part of bot ...
W4590
25.05.2011
Feniksi - Feniksi
WWW
From: Feniksi Re: The Artist’s Heart for Art-Historians, Curators and Art-Critics A Quitting Proposal This proposal has derived from a fond desire to quit being an artist. It has been for some time ...
From: Feniksi Re: The Artist’s Heart for Art-Historians, Curators and Art-Critics A Quitting Proposal This proposal has derived from a fond desire to quit being an artist. It has been for some time ...
W4257
24.05.2011
PROPOSAL FOR THE NEW COLUMBUS AVENUE COMMUNITY ENTRANCE PLAZA 1998 - Kristin Jones / Andrew Ginzel
WWW
KRISTIN JONES / ANDREW GINZEL PROPOSAL FOR THE NEW COLUMBUS AVENUE COMMUNITY ENTRANCE PLAZA 1998 American Museum of Natural History, New York City. Proposal for the new Columbus Avenue Community Entrance Plaza. Polsheck and Partners, Architects ...
KRISTIN JONES / ANDREW GINZEL PROPOSAL FOR THE NEW COLUMBUS AVENUE COMMUNITY ENTRANCE PLAZA 1998 American Museum of Natural History, New York City. Proposal for the new Columbus Avenue Community Entrance Plaza. Polsheck and Partners, Architects ...
W5202
03.10.2012
Samuel Gray Society  - Darryl Lauster
WWW
    The Samuel Gray Society is an educational foundation dedicated to the preservation of 18th century American history and to the life of Samuel Gray, the great patriot from whom the SGS takes its name. Forged in the crucible of hist ...
    The Samuel Gray Society is an educational foundation dedicated to the preservation of 18th century American history and to the life of Samuel Gray, the great patriot from whom the SGS takes its name. Forged in the crucible of hist ...
W3838
19.05.2011
Nicole Mortiboys
WWW
The images submitted to AUP are pages taken from a book on how to draw cartoons. (The title of the book has been forgotten). The book was found at Central Library, whilst studying on the MA fine Art course at, Birmingham City University, Margaret S ...
The images submitted to AUP are pages taken from a book on how to draw cartoons. (The title of the book has been forgotten). The book was found at Central Library, whilst studying on the MA fine Art course at, Birmingham City University, Margaret S ...
W4164
23.05.2011
Judith Sönnicken
WWW
my unrealizeable artwork is the image of my nose turning into a balcony and my brain coming out to have a cigarette. the point of visualizing it would be to put it in front of the eyes, but in fact that image is taking place behind. ...
my unrealizeable artwork is the image of my nose turning into a balcony and my brain coming out to have a cigarette. the point of visualizing it would be to put it in front of the eyes, but in fact that image is taking place behind. ...
W4140
23.05.2011
Projections on Paintings - Rebecca Sherman
WWW
Projections on Paintings displays a dialogue between moving and still images to generate unpredictable visuals in real time. It includes several large-scale mix media paintings of architectural constructions that extend into a scaffolding installation o ...
Projections on Paintings displays a dialogue between moving and still images to generate unpredictable visuals in real time. It includes several large-scale mix media paintings of architectural constructions that extend into a scaffolding installation o ...
W3827
19.05.2011
Ephemeral - Tomasz Domanski
WWW
I call my "ice actions", consisting in placing objects in principal downtown squares, the Monuments of Time. I find this title appropriately noble, considering in whose honor they are erected. In each case, I seek an adequate form to celebrate time as wel ...
I call my "ice actions", consisting in placing objects in principal downtown squares, the Monuments of Time. I find this title appropriately noble, considering in whose honor they are erected. In each case, I seek an adequate form to celebrate time as wel ...
W10705
30.08.2014
space-in-between  - Ya-Wen Fu
WWW
I seek to discuss the issues about the definition of human body and the relationship between individual body and external surroundings in my artworks. As Maurice Merleau-Ponty describes: ”The human body inhabits in space; moreover, it itself is an expr ...
I seek to discuss the issues about the definition of human body and the relationship between individual body and external surroundings in my artworks. As Maurice Merleau-Ponty describes: ”The human body inhabits in space; moreover, it itself is an expr ...
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 ...
W5167
25.09.2012
On lap - Lubomyr Tymkiv
WWW
On lap. The exhibition, which is on his knees in an outstanding person. It can be knee President of the State, or the Dalai Lama or the Pope or Anders Breivik. Exhibition itself is a cardboard box in which are my work. Duration of action of 15 to 30 ...
On lap. The exhibition, which is on his knees in an outstanding person. It can be knee President of the State, or the Dalai Lama or the Pope or Anders Breivik. Exhibition itself is a cardboard box in which are my work. Duration of action of 15 to 30 ...