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.

Brücke Wein-Kanal Arch. Hermann Czech, Wein - Franz West

Catwalk - Sylive Fleury

Uncompleted 1966 - and on  - John Armleder

Memorial - Ilya Kabakov

The World Record - General Idea

Project 1 + Project 2 - Simryn Gill

Financial Times Millennium Bridge Competition - Richard Serra and Frank Gehry

WATERWORKS - Mona Hatoum

Theater der Leere - Werner Ruhnau and Yves Klein

Monument with Rust - Gustav Metzger

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W4553
25.05.2011
Roc Parés
WWW
Self-disassembling Robot: Designing and building a robot which consists of the parts, functions and behaviors strictly necessary to develop its only task: self-disassembly. After its one-and-only performance, this robot will stop working (being) as a cons ...
Self-disassembling Robot: Designing and building a robot which consists of the parts, functions and behaviors strictly necessary to develop its only task: self-disassembly. After its one-and-only performance, this robot will stop working (being) as a cons ...
W4630
25.05.2011
Newark Orphan Asylum - Ann LePore
WWW
Newark Orphan Asylum is a proposal for public art at NJIT Alumni Center at 323 Marlin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Newark. In conjunction with Do1thing.org, an organization for homeless youth, and/or Heart Gallery of New Jersey (heartgallerynj.org), an organiz ...
Newark Orphan Asylum is a proposal for public art at NJIT Alumni Center at 323 Marlin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Newark. In conjunction with Do1thing.org, an organization for homeless youth, and/or Heart Gallery of New Jersey (heartgallerynj.org), an organiz ...
W4968
22.08.2012
50 Unrealized Artwork Recipes - Greg Sholette
WWW
50 Unrealized Artwork Recipes See PDF ...
50 Unrealized Artwork Recipes See PDF ...
U9665
01.01.1967
Unrealized Turtles 1967 - Joseph Grigely
Unbuilt Roads
Basically, a short history about why I never became an illustrator of turtles - of wild animals - or of anything else At Birchland Park School, Mrs. Donahue taught art and Mrs. Corliss taught music. The art classes were okay because I drew turtles all ...
Basically, a short history about why I never became an illustrator of turtles - of wild animals - or of anything else At Birchland Park School, Mrs. Donahue taught art and Mrs. Corliss taught music. The art classes were okay because I drew turtles all ...
W4752
27.05.2011
Abstract Shapes & Forms - G.F. Zaimis
WWW
Statement Blurring boundaries of art and architecture, G.F. Zaimis work explores the nature of shape and form from the most minimal to monumental, abstract to literal, painting to photography. The essence of her work addresses architecture’s shap ...
Statement Blurring boundaries of art and architecture, G.F. Zaimis work explores the nature of shape and form from the most minimal to monumental, abstract to literal, painting to photography. The essence of her work addresses architecture’s shap ...
W4679
26.05.2011
“Freud is the Mirror of Marx” - Andrea Goldman
WWW
“Freud is the Mirror of Marx” would be a photographic show down a long hallway or narrow room. On one side of the hallway, images tangentially related to Freudian thought are hung, across from each image is a photograph tangentially related to Marxist ...
“Freud is the Mirror of Marx” would be a photographic show down a long hallway or narrow room. On one side of the hallway, images tangentially related to Freudian thought are hung, across from each image is a photograph tangentially related to Marxist ...
W4053
22.05.2011
Project: (where nothing ever happens) - leo Morrissey
WWW
A mobile fundamentalist billboards advertises the “judgment day” May 21, 2011…when the chosen will be taken up to “heaven”…sinners not going to heaven will be left behind on earth. As a none believer I have always professed that no “god” ...
A mobile fundamentalist billboards advertises the “judgment day” May 21, 2011…when the chosen will be taken up to “heaven”…sinners not going to heaven will be left behind on earth. As a none believer I have always professed that no “god” ...
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 ...
W4301
24.05.2011
“UDLU” Underground Desert Living Unit - Reynard Loki
WWW
“UDLU” Underground Desert Living Unit The UDLU (Underground Desert Living Unit) is a conceptual single-family dwelling installed below the surface of a desert ecosystem. PROJECT Create and install “UDLU” demo house in the Chihuahuan Dese ...
“UDLU” Underground Desert Living Unit The UDLU (Underground Desert Living Unit) is a conceptual single-family dwelling installed below the surface of a desert ecosystem. PROJECT Create and install “UDLU” demo house in the Chihuahuan Dese ...
W4612
25.05.2011
Review of Unrealized projects by Cornford & Cross Dave Beech - Cornford & Cross
WWW
Review of Unrealized projects by Cornford & Cross Dave Beech Art Monthly Dec 2002 — Jan 2003 ...
Review of Unrealized projects by Cornford & Cross Dave Beech Art Monthly Dec 2002 — Jan 2003 ...
U9510
01.01.1997
Der New-Babyloner - Constant
Unbuilt Roads
Die Automation verspricht uns eine Produktion, die die Bedürfnisse aller Menschen ohne menschliche Arbeitsleistung zufriedenstellt. Die Arbeit des Menschen ist nicht länger ein unumgängliches Produktionsmittel. Der Mensch steht erste. malig vor der Tat ...
Die Automation verspricht uns eine Produktion, die die Bedürfnisse aller Menschen ohne menschliche Arbeitsleistung zufriedenstellt. Die Arbeit des Menschen ist nicht länger ein unumgängliches Produktionsmittel. Der Mensch steht erste. malig vor der Tat ...
W4044
22.05.2011
Annie Wu & Ziga Testen
WWW
The project we have in mind begins with a little anecdote. Upon a chance meeting with Australian geometric abstraction painter John Nixon (1949) in the Netherlands, a thorough conversation revolving around a discontinued line of an Ikea table was brought ...
The project we have in mind begins with a little anecdote. Upon a chance meeting with Australian geometric abstraction painter John Nixon (1949) in the Netherlands, a thorough conversation revolving around a discontinued line of an Ikea table was brought ...
W3700
17.05.2011
Las Spratlys Project - Jevijoe Vitug
WWW
Las Spratlys Project The unrealized project Las Spratlys is based on Spratly Islands, a disputed islands claimed by China, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. The initial concept is to activate these islands by creating a joint venture agreement ...
Las Spratlys Project The unrealized project Las Spratlys is based on Spratly Islands, a disputed islands claimed by China, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. The initial concept is to activate these islands by creating a joint venture agreement ...
W4568
25.05.2011
"Wire Tap"  - Dianne Bowen and Heins Kim
WWW
"Wire Tap" physical study I, 2008 2,500 steel dress pins, 200 feet heavy gauge copper phone wire, 150 feet steel elevator cable, 5 canvas panels, roughly 4,000 feet of varied data and thin phone wire, 200 feet plastic IV tubing, plastic bubbles, astr ...
"Wire Tap" physical study I, 2008 2,500 steel dress pins, 200 feet heavy gauge copper phone wire, 150 feet steel elevator cable, 5 canvas panels, roughly 4,000 feet of varied data and thin phone wire, 200 feet plastic IV tubing, plastic bubbles, astr ...
W4965
21.08.2012
Unrealized/able photography - Ana-Maria Huluban
WWW
Unrealized/able photography Ana-Maria Huluban anamariahuluban.com Photograph - possible to be taken directly: A glass cube with 2m sides, full of clear water. Inside the cube there are mirrors which reflect the surroundings and each other. ...
Unrealized/able photography Ana-Maria Huluban anamariahuluban.com Photograph - possible to be taken directly: A glass cube with 2m sides, full of clear water. Inside the cube there are mirrors which reflect the surroundings and each other. ...
W3938
20.05.2011
LETTER OF INTEREST for “Art Mediator” - Verina Gfader
WWW
The attached letter bears witness to a mail exchange following the Manifesta 8 (in the region of Murcia, Spain) announcement and job vacancies within education there. The proposal tries to create a space of uncertainty for the Manifesta organisers. ...
The attached letter bears witness to a mail exchange following the Manifesta 8 (in the region of Murcia, Spain) announcement and job vacancies within education there. The proposal tries to create a space of uncertainty for the Manifesta organisers. ...
W5310
17.10.2012
NaoKo TakaHashi
WWW
This project is to dress the entire serpentine Gallery in circus tents and invite visitors to be hypnotised to experience a false memory. ...
This project is to dress the entire serpentine Gallery in circus tents and invite visitors to be hypnotised to experience a false memory. ...
W4179
24.05.2011
Queen Anne Island  - Kurt Kiefer
WWW
Queen Anne Island As the earth warms, the waters rise and our world becomes a very different place, we need to start making the changes to our cities, towns and neighborhoods that will allow us to move seamlessly into new realities. Locavorism will be ...
Queen Anne Island As the earth warms, the waters rise and our world becomes a very different place, we need to start making the changes to our cities, towns and neighborhoods that will allow us to move seamlessly into new realities. Locavorism will be ...
W3733
18.05.2011
“Veil” - Felippe Moraes
WWW
“Veil” The intervention, in the simulations proposed for “Teatro Colón” in Peru and “Paço das Artes” in São Paulo - Brazil, works by placing 3 fog machines in the top of the specific building. These machines produce smoke that are than c ...
“Veil” The intervention, in the simulations proposed for “Teatro Colón” in Peru and “Paço das Artes” in São Paulo - Brazil, works by placing 3 fog machines in the top of the specific building. These machines produce smoke that are than c ...
W3533
11.05.2011
The Pagoda - Michael Jantzen
WWW
Would be made from sustainably grown Western Red Cedar wood. Approximately twenty one feet wide, fifteen feet deep, and eighteen feet tall. ...
Would be made from sustainably grown Western Red Cedar wood. Approximately twenty one feet wide, fifteen feet deep, and eighteen feet tall. ...
W4102
23.05.2011
IMNOW (I-aM-NOW) - Shlomit Lehavi
WWW
IMNOW is an emergent identity composed of digital footprints across major social media platforms that challenges and explores current definitions of space (public vs. private, physical vs. virtual,) and time, with regard to contemporary notions of friends ...
IMNOW is an emergent identity composed of digital footprints across major social media platforms that challenges and explores current definitions of space (public vs. private, physical vs. virtual,) and time, with regard to contemporary notions of friends ...
W4444
25.05.2011
Path to nothingness - Jenson Anto
WWW
Path to nothingness The mountains had been waiting for me, every rivulet, boulder, weathered rock too. And the icy winds let me know that. At 60kph, the wind resistance knocks down the speed to a mere 10kph and drills sand into my nose. Melting snow ha ...
Path to nothingness The mountains had been waiting for me, every rivulet, boulder, weathered rock too. And the icy winds let me know that. At 60kph, the wind resistance knocks down the speed to a mere 10kph and drills sand into my nose. Melting snow ha ...
W4640
25.05.2011
“Hey, wave!” - Maria Dundakova
WWW
Project “Hey, wave!” Video movie script © MARIA DUNDAKOVA a Man and a Wave The Wave – your pulse comes from the heart of the earth your dance is as light as the clouds and as heavy as an unborn child in the belly of his mother wave – you come to ...
Project “Hey, wave!” Video movie script © MARIA DUNDAKOVA a Man and a Wave The Wave – your pulse comes from the heart of the earth your dance is as light as the clouds and as heavy as an unborn child in the belly of his mother wave – you come to ...
W4400
25.05.2011
INCEPTION - Nick Sung
WWW
EPTION The installation of an exact replica of an AMC movie theatre in Emeryville, California in which a section of the end credits of Christopher Nolan's Inception will play, continuously looped, day and night, ad infinitum. Against the backdrop o ...
EPTION The installation of an exact replica of an AMC movie theatre in Emeryville, California in which a section of the end credits of Christopher Nolan's Inception will play, continuously looped, day and night, ad infinitum. Against the backdrop o ...
W5197
02.10.2012
Spiti - Maria Karametou
WWW
In recent times, as the urban landscape changes under the socioeconomic impact of migration and the breaking down of borders, and as uniformity precipitates a loss of individual identity and character, there is a continual process of definition and redefi ...
In recent times, as the urban landscape changes under the socioeconomic impact of migration and the breaking down of borders, and as uniformity precipitates a loss of individual identity and character, there is a continual process of definition and redefi ...
D10785
01.01.2013
TO BUY A CAR AND DROP IT IN THE OCEAN IN THE MIDDLE OF A FULLMOON NIGHT - Bruzzone
DAAD
TO BUY A CAR AND DROP IT IN THE OCEAN IN THE MIDDLE OF A FULLMOON NIGHT ...
TO BUY A CAR AND DROP IT IN THE OCEAN IN THE MIDDLE OF A FULLMOON NIGHT ...