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.

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

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

Invitation Space No.1 - Tania Mouraud

WATERWORKS - Mona Hatoum

A House of Dust - Alison Knowles

Monumento all'agricoltura 1969-70 - Alighiero Boetti

Engel-Detektor - Jakob Gautel & Jason Karaïndros

PROJEKT - Ulrich Rückreim

Museum - Katharina Fritsch

Billboard - Jimmie Durham

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
#
Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W4353
25.05.2011
Circular escalator - Ricardo Gomes
WWW
Circular escalator Through our research of the City of Perth’s master plan, the public success of the revitalization of Forrest Place not only depends upon the current restructuring already under way in the vicinity, but also upon the creation of a n ...
Circular escalator Through our research of the City of Perth’s master plan, the public success of the revitalization of Forrest Place not only depends upon the current restructuring already under way in the vicinity, but also upon the creation of a n ...
W4419
25.05.2011
Things we never did  - beate rathmayr
WWW
Things we never did An archiv of unrealized ideas Idea / concept: Beate Rathmayr In december 2010 an archive at the artist association MAERZ showed things artists never did. For some weeks written, spoken and drafted fragments showed unfulfilled and u ...
Things we never did An archiv of unrealized ideas Idea / concept: Beate Rathmayr In december 2010 an archive at the artist association MAERZ showed things artists never did. For some weeks written, spoken and drafted fragments showed unfulfilled and u ...
W4310
24.05.2011
The “Mariah Carey Perpetual God Machine" - Reynard Loki
WWW
The Mariah Carey Perpetual God Machine Based on Fractal Technology An unrealized project by Reynard Loki http://reynardloki.blogspot.com/ The “Mariah Carey Perpetual God Machine Based on Fractal Technology” is an unrealized project consisti ...
The Mariah Carey Perpetual God Machine Based on Fractal Technology An unrealized project by Reynard Loki http://reynardloki.blogspot.com/ The “Mariah Carey Perpetual God Machine Based on Fractal Technology” is an unrealized project consisti ...
W3854
19.05.2011
Yu-Hang Huang
WWW
I am always interested in “Transitional” or “In Between” -a process of transformation. I believe that the transitional state is one kind of human conditions that we all have to face sometime in our live. ...
I am always interested in “Transitional” or “In Between” -a process of transformation. I believe that the transitional state is one kind of human conditions that we all have to face sometime in our live. ...
W5304
17.10.2012
Antarctica Melts Project 1971-2012 - Luciano Zubillaga
WWW
Antarctica Melts Project 1971-2012 The Antarctica Melts Project is a collaboration between artists Luciano Zubillaga and Carlos Ginzburg. It is an extended reconstruction of an historically unrealized ecological project by Argentine conceptualism o ...
Antarctica Melts Project 1971-2012 The Antarctica Melts Project is a collaboration between artists Luciano Zubillaga and Carlos Ginzburg. It is an extended reconstruction of an historically unrealized ecological project by Argentine conceptualism o ...
W3772
18.05.2011
Mirek Lumens Proposal 2007, Mirek Chicago Proposal 2006 - Robert Mirek
WWW
Mirek Lumens Proposal 2007 Mirek Chicago Proposal 2006 ...
Mirek Lumens Proposal 2007 Mirek Chicago Proposal 2006 ...
W3758
18.05.2011
Young Attractive Cool People - Evan Tyler
WWW
May 18/2011 In a humorous attempt to confront the urban uniform, I aim to ease the mysticism that surrounds “cool”, as well as alter the disposition of those who critique hip culture. I propose to organize an adventure through the streets of Canada ...
May 18/2011 In a humorous attempt to confront the urban uniform, I aim to ease the mysticism that surrounds “cool”, as well as alter the disposition of those who critique hip culture. I propose to organize an adventure through the streets of Canada ...
W3489
11.05.2011
The Project for Collective Becoming: Philosophy of Platform - Marc Lafia
WWW
The Project for Collective Becoming Philosophy of Platform Marc Lafia What it is? We are creating a series of global gatherings to introduce and connect people through sociability, philosophic revelry, enjoyment, reflection and action. It involves b ...
The Project for Collective Becoming Philosophy of Platform Marc Lafia What it is? We are creating a series of global gatherings to introduce and connect people through sociability, philosophic revelry, enjoyment, reflection and action. It involves b ...
W5380
19.10.2012
Caution! Work in Progress - Geraldo Zamproni
WWW
Caution! Work in Progress Rack or plastic folding board with vibrant yellow tone is a warning message that awakens the immediate interest of the observer in conferring closely with looking at what is happening. ...
Caution! Work in Progress Rack or plastic folding board with vibrant yellow tone is a warning message that awakens the immediate interest of the observer in conferring closely with looking at what is happening. ...
D10795
01.01.2000
Life Exchange - Carolina Caycedo
DAAD
This project consists in bartering your life for mine. Este proyecto consiste en intercambiar tu vida por la mía. Dieses Projekt besteht darin, Ihr Leben gegen meines zu tauschen. If interested please contact: Interesados contactar: Be ...
This project consists in bartering your life for mine. Este proyecto consiste en intercambiar tu vida por la mía. Dieses Projekt besteht darin, Ihr Leben gegen meines zu tauschen. If interested please contact: Interesados contactar: Be ...
W4124
23.05.2011
Here/There - Matthew Slaats
WWW
Here/There Matthew Slaats Project Proposal Here/There is a virtual 3D exploration of the spatial, temporal, economic and physical relationships between environments in North and South America. Project Description Here/There aims to illustr ...
Here/There Matthew Slaats Project Proposal Here/There is a virtual 3D exploration of the spatial, temporal, economic and physical relationships between environments in North and South America. Project Description Here/There aims to illustr ...
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. ...
W4061
23.05.2011
andreas guibert
WWW
The King of the changing faces Photo installation ...
The King of the changing faces Photo installation ...
W5285
16.10.2012
Asurini  - Adriana
WWW
Asurini – Textile Design It was my last years in University (2006) when I developed and designed this project. It took 9 months searching and designing it. I was fascinated about the local (Brazilian Indians Asurini) body painting and the story behin ...
Asurini – Textile Design It was my last years in University (2006) when I developed and designed this project. It took 9 months searching and designing it. I was fascinated about the local (Brazilian Indians Asurini) body painting and the story behin ...
W4145
23.05.2011
This England - Cornford & Cross
WWW
For the Times/Artangel commissions, we proposed to build a 50-metre section of concrete ‘flyover’ in Green Park, London. Emerging from the trees would have been an imposing and apparently purposeful structure, a sweeping arc supported on tall piers. Y ...
For the Times/Artangel commissions, we proposed to build a 50-metre section of concrete ‘flyover’ in Green Park, London. Emerging from the trees would have been an imposing and apparently purposeful structure, a sweeping arc supported on tall piers. Y ...
W4911
14.08.2012
Curricula vitae - Joseph Redwood-Martinez
WWW
Curricula vitae Elective ethnic studies programs throughout the state of Arizona have been under intense scrutiny since 2010, when Governor Jan Brewer signed HB 2281 into law, forbidding public or charter schools from offering at any grade level course ...
Curricula vitae Elective ethnic studies programs throughout the state of Arizona have been under intense scrutiny since 2010, when Governor Jan Brewer signed HB 2281 into law, forbidding public or charter schools from offering at any grade level course ...
W4853
08.08.2012
Tyburn Tree - Rick Buckley
WWW
Tyburn Tree Proposal for a site-specific structure Rick Buckley ©2006 ‘Tyburn Tree’ is a site-specific (powder coated) steel structure. Elevated upon three vertical beams, measuring approx 6 metres in height. To stand at the original sit ...
Tyburn Tree Proposal for a site-specific structure Rick Buckley ©2006 ‘Tyburn Tree’ is a site-specific (powder coated) steel structure. Elevated upon three vertical beams, measuring approx 6 metres in height. To stand at the original sit ...
W4425
25.05.2011
Retrospection of Rejection: - Brianne Mackinnon
WWW
Retrospection of Rejection: A collaborative competition with fellow Brisbane artist, Anastasia Booth. Each artist apply's for as many exhibition opportunities as possible - collecting and archiving only the rejection responses to proposals. These document ...
Retrospection of Rejection: A collaborative competition with fellow Brisbane artist, Anastasia Booth. Each artist apply's for as many exhibition opportunities as possible - collecting and archiving only the rejection responses to proposals. These document ...
U9711
01.01.1989
2 Architecture Towers - Robert Irwin
Unbuilt Roads
A competition won in 1989 Tower One: was proposed to sit in a roundabout next to the Chicago river .. 65' (feet) in height, the base an octagonal cast iron construction stands on a slightly mounded cast rubber base ... eight triangular beams thrust upw ...
A competition won in 1989 Tower One: was proposed to sit in a roundabout next to the Chicago river .. 65' (feet) in height, the base an octagonal cast iron construction stands on a slightly mounded cast rubber base ... eight triangular beams thrust upw ...
W4120
23.05.2011
Virginia Mastrogiannaki
WWW
The principal idea of the project has its roots on the "cosmogonist" myth of the Cosmic Egg, references of which we find in the history of almost all primitive cultures. We have been asked to research a "cosmogonist" myth and then to carry out a project ...
The principal idea of the project has its roots on the "cosmogonist" myth of the Cosmic Egg, references of which we find in the history of almost all primitive cultures. We have been asked to research a "cosmogonist" myth and then to carry out a project ...
W4146
23.05.2011
Art School - Cornford & Cross
WWW
Art School would have occupied the Chisenhale Gallery, London, for one month to facilitate an explicit and implicit enquiry into notions of the art school. With contributions from artists, writers and curators, the project would have encouraged participa ...
Art School would have occupied the Chisenhale Gallery, London, for one month to facilitate an explicit and implicit enquiry into notions of the art school. With contributions from artists, writers and curators, the project would have encouraged participa ...
W3654
15.05.2011
nigal goodship
WWW
They say, art no longer produces beauty, she produces meaning. I say, one cannot paint a picture or make an image of a woman and not deal with the concept of beauty. Marlene Dumas Assignment 5fp001 Contemporary photographic practice, The Venus project ...
They say, art no longer produces beauty, she produces meaning. I say, one cannot paint a picture or make an image of a woman and not deal with the concept of beauty. Marlene Dumas Assignment 5fp001 Contemporary photographic practice, The Venus project ...
W3793
18.05.2011
Bathhaus - Guillermo Creus
WWW
This project was originally submitted to De Appel Curatorial Programme and was rejected in its original format (my original idea was to have the project proposal to be the project in itself). Freida Abtan, Peter Dobill and Aïda Ruilova. Curated by ...
This project was originally submitted to De Appel Curatorial Programme and was rejected in its original format (my original idea was to have the project proposal to be the project in itself). Freida Abtan, Peter Dobill and Aïda Ruilova. Curated by ...
W4265
24.05.2011
Kristin Jones / Andrew Ginzel
WWW
Project for Hypothetical Pond Sonsbeek Arnheim, The Netherlands 1986 ...
Project for Hypothetical Pond Sonsbeek Arnheim, The Netherlands 1986 ...
W3899
20.05.2011
SIN TITULO - Daniela Huerta
WWW
SIN TITULO Nails, wall, dust and red thread. Dimensions variable 2010 This is a project that perhaps was never intended to be realized. It was rather an action and a documentation of it. The beginning and the end is the wall, as it works as a state ...
SIN TITULO Nails, wall, dust and red thread. Dimensions variable 2010 This is a project that perhaps was never intended to be realized. It was rather an action and a documentation of it. The beginning and the end is the wall, as it works as a state ...
W4335
24.05.2011
Jussi Jaakola, Finland
WWW
Untitled painting Mixed media on canvas 35 x 27 cm 2003 Untitled painting Mixed media on board 37 x 48 cm 2004 ...
Untitled painting Mixed media on canvas 35 x 27 cm 2003 Untitled painting Mixed media on board 37 x 48 cm 2004 ...