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.

Monumento all'agricoltura 1969-70 - Alighiero Boetti

Fax Transmission - Raymond Pettibone and Jason Rhoades

2 Architecture Towers - Robert Irwin

den anonymen Tod ausstellen - Gregor Schneider

Untitled, modeled after the Leipzig Völkerschlachtdenkmal...  - Jenny Holzer

Chen H.V.O + G.T. - Bertrand Lavier

Unrealized Projects - Jonas Meckas

Visual Poem: Cap I Cua - Joan Brossa

Aus: Katalog 'Kunst bleibt Kunst' - Hans Peter Feldman

Nicht realisierte Projekte - Stefan Demary

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W5026
31.08.2012
Blow Job - Peter Friedl
WWW
Blow Job Peter Friedl Proposal, Hamburger Kunsthalle, 2004 Blow Job (working title) is an exhibition project dealing with theatricality and its media possibilities. In the form of a monographically structured project, I treat various themes with wh ...
Blow Job Peter Friedl Proposal, Hamburger Kunsthalle, 2004 Blow Job (working title) is an exhibition project dealing with theatricality and its media possibilities. In the form of a monographically structured project, I treat various themes with wh ...
W5107
14.09.2012
Eli Skipp
WWW
This project requires an indoor climbing wall of significant width and height (minimum 40' x 65'). A route setter will be hired to climb and lay out climbing holds and place climbing tape to mark the route (color is up to the setter, but yellow is prefer ...
This project requires an indoor climbing wall of significant width and height (minimum 40' x 65'). A route setter will be hired to climb and lay out climbing holds and place climbing tape to mark the route (color is up to the setter, but yellow is prefer ...
W5424
20.10.2012
THE DIFFICULT INTERPRETATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC REALITY - Ulrich Bocker
WWW
THE DIFFICULT INTERPRETATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC REALITY For the innocent photography is the most obvious form of visual communication in the world. The pictured situation seems clear at first sight until we read the title or the legend underneath. An opt ...
THE DIFFICULT INTERPRETATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC REALITY For the innocent photography is the most obvious form of visual communication in the world. The pictured situation seems clear at first sight until we read the title or the legend underneath. An opt ...
W3882
19.05.2011
Wheatfields - Carlo Marcucci
WWW
Large imaginary sculptures made of pasta strands. These non-existent structures are based on the "Wheatfields" body of work. "Wheatfields" are existent wall-mounted sculptures made of spaghetti and various kinds on noodles applied to wood. "The Gate" ...
Large imaginary sculptures made of pasta strands. These non-existent structures are based on the "Wheatfields" body of work. "Wheatfields" are existent wall-mounted sculptures made of spaghetti and various kinds on noodles applied to wood. "The Gate" ...
W3693
16.05.2011
Liza Eurich
WWW
STATEMENT Liza Eurich / 2011.05.16 My current studio practice in engaged in a critical inquiry that considers how failure might be defined in a capacity that extends beyond its utilization as a category of judgment. Rather, failure functions alternati ...
STATEMENT Liza Eurich / 2011.05.16 My current studio practice in engaged in a critical inquiry that considers how failure might be defined in a capacity that extends beyond its utilization as a category of judgment. Rather, failure functions alternati ...
W3674
15.05.2011
The Warhol Machine - Johanna Thompson
WWW
The Warhol Machine is a mechanism that will bring 15 minutes of fame to everyone. It is an installation in Times Square, New York City, consisting of a video camera in a booth, a visitor inside the booth and in front of the camera and the already installe ...
The Warhol Machine is a mechanism that will bring 15 minutes of fame to everyone. It is an installation in Times Square, New York City, consisting of a video camera in a booth, a visitor inside the booth and in front of the camera and the already installe ...
W3803
18.05.2011
An experience being an experience like an experience you just had - Joanne Tatham & Tom O'Sullivan
WWW
"An experience being an experience like an experience you just had" was an unsuccessful proposal for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. ...
"An experience being an experience like an experience you just had" was an unsuccessful proposal for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. ...
U9578
01.01.1997
Financial Times Millennium Bridge Competition - Richard Serra and Frank Gehry
Unbuilt Roads
Design Intent: The main purpose of a footbridge across the Thames should be more than to transport people most efficiently from point A to point B. We propose, instead, a bridge where sociality becomes the dominant practical purpose, a structure which ...
Design Intent: The main purpose of a footbridge across the Thames should be more than to transport people most efficiently from point A to point B. We propose, instead, a bridge where sociality becomes the dominant practical purpose, a structure which ...
W3727
17.05.2011
Achtung” (Watch out!)  - Doris Koch
WWW
Since 1991, Doris Koch has been producing participatory projects in public spaces. In 2006, the project “Achtung” (Watch out!) was developed for the Stadtpark (city park) in Dessau in dialogue with the residents, and cancelled in Spring 2007. In the c ...
Since 1991, Doris Koch has been producing participatory projects in public spaces. In 2006, the project “Achtung” (Watch out!) was developed for the Stadtpark (city park) in Dessau in dialogue with the residents, and cancelled in Spring 2007. In the c ...
U9557
23.04.1997
Eislandschaft - P. Fischli und D. Weiss
Unbuilt Roads
HEIZKRAFTWERK RÖMERBRUCKE STADTWERKE SAARBROCKEN - KUNSTPROJEKT - Bauherr: Stadtwerke Saarbrücken Projekt 3: "Eislandschaft" Künstler: P. Fischli und D. Weiss, Zürich Architekten: PAS, Jourdan und Müller Lage und Baubeschreibung ...
HEIZKRAFTWERK RÖMERBRUCKE STADTWERKE SAARBROCKEN - KUNSTPROJEKT - Bauherr: Stadtwerke Saarbrücken Projekt 3: "Eislandschaft" Künstler: P. Fischli und D. Weiss, Zürich Architekten: PAS, Jourdan und Müller Lage und Baubeschreibung ...
W4821
07.08.2012
Column - Hannes Bend
WWW
Column, 2010 Candy cast sculpture of a Greek column, multi-colored, white or translucent Proposal for Sculpture Center New York Open Call in June 2010 Column Project Proposal for Sculpture Center New York 2010 by Hannes Bend Candy Column, 2010 is ...
Column, 2010 Candy cast sculpture of a Greek column, multi-colored, white or translucent Proposal for Sculpture Center New York Open Call in June 2010 Column Project Proposal for Sculpture Center New York 2010 by Hannes Bend Candy Column, 2010 is ...
W3506
11.05.2011
Evidence of Difference - Sarah Hemm
WWW
Evidence of Difference criteria: must take one photograph every day of 2011 that will represent evidence of my difference
work must answer the question, “what makes me different? what am I doing today that is different than everyone else? what se ...
Evidence of Difference criteria: must take one photograph every day of 2011 that will represent evidence of my difference
work must answer the question, “what makes me different? what am I doing today that is different than everyone else? what se ...
W4159
23.05.2011
Asymmetric Flight - andreas kopp
WWW
Asymmetric Flight Concept for a mobilé in public space. With attached documents I would like to introduce a concept (from 2009) which I so far have not been able to realize. ...
Asymmetric Flight Concept for a mobilé in public space. With attached documents I would like to introduce a concept (from 2009) which I so far have not been able to realize. ...
W4685
26.05.2011
Artist Statement  - barbara greene mann
WWW
Artist Statement These drawings are a new series about the ladies who shopped and shopped and lost their heads. Their necks were used as a periscope.and finally someone said, Put your money where your mouth is. Voila they became known as the Purse Heads. ...
Artist Statement These drawings are a new series about the ladies who shopped and shopped and lost their heads. Their necks were used as a periscope.and finally someone said, Put your money where your mouth is. Voila they became known as the Purse Heads. ...
W4300
24.05.2011
Laundry Line - zavick botha
WWW
Washing clothes and laundry lines are common day to day images of human activity throughout most of the world. Although in Western society something so ordinary now takes place behind closed doors. Some people use clothes to express their identity, in oth ...
Washing clothes and laundry lines are common day to day images of human activity throughout most of the world. Although in Western society something so ordinary now takes place behind closed doors. Some people use clothes to express their identity, in oth ...
W3521
11.05.2011
Booming Bratislava - PJ Bruyniks
WWW
Booming Bratislava (= working title) or Make Hot Spots instead of Cold War A combination of an art project, road movie, art scouting, crash course and hype-setting. But also the start of a network of art sister cities (art town twinning). Th ...
Booming Bratislava (= working title) or Make Hot Spots instead of Cold War A combination of an art project, road movie, art scouting, crash course and hype-setting. But also the start of a network of art sister cities (art town twinning). Th ...
W3477
11.05.2011
Douglas Park
WWW
Douglas Park, U.K based and internationally active visual artist, author (of literary prose and critical essays), as well as exhibition curator (and increasingly all practices combined) douglasrpark@googlemail.com http://www.myspace.com/douglas_park +44 7 ...
Douglas Park, U.K based and internationally active visual artist, author (of literary prose and critical essays), as well as exhibition curator (and increasingly all practices combined) douglasrpark@googlemail.com http://www.myspace.com/douglas_park +44 7 ...
W5282
15.10.2012
Matthew Patterson
WWW
Proposal Statement As an emerging artist the possibility of the Art Ventures grant comes at a critical time in my career. I am at a point where my artistic development has out grown my financial means and to continue to grow would necessitate outsi ...
Proposal Statement As an emerging artist the possibility of the Art Ventures grant comes at a critical time in my career. I am at a point where my artistic development has out grown my financial means and to continue to grow would necessitate outsi ...
W3532
11.05.2011
The Sounds of the Sun Pavilion - Michael Jantzen
WWW
​The Sounds of the Sun Pavilion is a conceptual proposal for a large structure made of many small, pre-fabricated, square, curved, steel tube components. These components are joined together to form thirteen large interwoven curved elements. One side o ...
​The Sounds of the Sun Pavilion is a conceptual proposal for a large structure made of many small, pre-fabricated, square, curved, steel tube components. These components are joined together to form thirteen large interwoven curved elements. One side o ...
W10484
28.04.2014
Tower (Without Walls) - Esther Shalev-Gerz
WWW
Jerusalem, Israel In 1998 Esther Shalev-Gerz proposed the intervention Tower (Without Walls) to the city of Jerusalem. The project consisted of imagining Jerusalem without city walls, by projecting the image of the streets located on the other side ont ...
Jerusalem, Israel In 1998 Esther Shalev-Gerz proposed the intervention Tower (Without Walls) to the city of Jerusalem. The project consisted of imagining Jerusalem without city walls, by projecting the image of the streets located on the other side ont ...
W4062
23.05.2011
List of Musicians for Inclusion in Predictive Text - Song-Ming Ang
WWW
Dear Nokia, List of Musicians for Inclusion in Predictive Text I would like to offer a suggestion for your company, which is to include the names of commonly mentioned musicians into the word list of the Predictive Text function. As an avid ...
Dear Nokia, List of Musicians for Inclusion in Predictive Text I would like to offer a suggestion for your company, which is to include the names of commonly mentioned musicians into the word list of the Predictive Text function. As an avid ...
W5366
19.10.2012
Dorit Feldman, Orna Oren Izraeli and Na'ama Zussman
WWW
Three artists explore and forge different interactions that exist in the real world and project them onto their surfaces. This is a proposal that suggests a unique practice of the library, on its books, ephemera and other objects of use, as if they w ...
Three artists explore and forge different interactions that exist in the real world and project them onto their surfaces. This is a proposal that suggests a unique practice of the library, on its books, ephemera and other objects of use, as if they w ...
W4069
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 ...
W4150
23.05.2011
Painting as a Pastime 2001  - Cornford & Cross
WWW
Painting as a Pastime 2001 Brett Prestidge Compton Verney, Oxfordshire, England (2000) Courtesy of Stanton Williams Architects We were invited to submit a proposal for Compton Verney, Oxfordshire, England. Our proposal was to offer a single first priz ...
Painting as a Pastime 2001 Brett Prestidge Compton Verney, Oxfordshire, England (2000) Courtesy of Stanton Williams Architects We were invited to submit a proposal for Compton Verney, Oxfordshire, England. Our proposal was to offer a single first priz ...
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. ...
W4524
25.05.2011
Star Museum in Sharjah - Star Museum in Sharjah by A12
WWW
Star Museum in Sharjah by A12 Our proposal for Sharjah Art Foundation Production Programme was to build a temporary pavilion to host the first stage of the Star Museum, a travelling museum dedicated to the stars. The stars in this museum are not inten ...
Star Museum in Sharjah by A12 Our proposal for Sharjah Art Foundation Production Programme was to build a temporary pavilion to host the first stage of the Star Museum, a travelling museum dedicated to the stars. The stars in this museum are not inten ...