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.

MODELL OF AN OFFICE FOR A COUPLE OF TWINS, BOTH 1,38 TALL" - Tobias Rehrenberg

Relatum (Iron Plate and Stone) - Lee Ufan

WATERWORKS - Mona Hatoum

Catwalk - Sylive Fleury

Project tor the Veterans Administration Hospital--Bay Pines, Florida. - Robert Morris

Broadway Musicals - Christian Marclay

Uncompleted 1966 - and on  - John Armleder

PROJECT FOR A COMMUNITY CENTER, AVENUE DES NARCISSES, CHENOVE - Vito Acconci

"Free Space" - Michelangelo Pistoletto

Monument with Rust - Gustav Metzger

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
#
Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W5054
03.09.2012
Parish in Lezkairu - Taller Basico de Arquitectura [TBA]
WWW
Parish in Lezkairu (2011) The building takes an "L" form, as it differentiates two principal zones: the temple, which occupies one side of the "L", and the rooms and housings, that occupy the other side. Both areas coexist in a strong and unified image ...
Parish in Lezkairu (2011) The building takes an "L" form, as it differentiates two principal zones: the temple, which occupies one side of the "L", and the rooms and housings, that occupy the other side. Both areas coexist in a strong and unified image ...
W3590
13.05.2011
IN-OUTDOOR PROJECT - Helena Trindade
WWW
Unrealized Public Art Project For images and text please refer to the PDF ...
Unrealized Public Art Project For images and text please refer to the PDF ...
W4647
25.05.2011
Este No Es Refugio Para Jornaleros - Jenny Polak
WWW
Este No Es Refugio Para Jornaleros A 2008 proposal for Corona Plaza, Queens, by Jenny Polak Invited by the Queens Museum of Art. The 103 st. 7 station connects Corona to the train known by some as the Immigrant Express. I want to put a small camoufla ...
Este No Es Refugio Para Jornaleros A 2008 proposal for Corona Plaza, Queens, by Jenny Polak Invited by the Queens Museum of Art. The 103 st. 7 station connects Corona to the train known by some as the Immigrant Express. I want to put a small camoufla ...
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 ...
W4972
24.08.2012
Memories on the Falls - R. Songe Lee
WWW
Memories on the Falls Video projection by R. Songe Lee Place: Niagara Falls Memory of people traverses through space and time that is projected onto the Niagara Falls. There are two projections, one waterfall with a space that still exists ...
Memories on the Falls Video projection by R. Songe Lee Place: Niagara Falls Memory of people traverses through space and time that is projected onto the Niagara Falls. There are two projections, one waterfall with a space that still exists ...
W4623
25.05.2011
Economic Express or Mobility Express Project  - reaction-lalou
WWW
Economic Express or Mobility Express Project Form: Cross-discipline Mediums: Sculpture, Performance, Installations, Film Artist-Author: reaction-lalou Exhibited: Technopolis-Industrial Museum of Athens-Greece-6th Video Art Festival 2010 Maktab Anbar Mus ...
Economic Express or Mobility Express Project Form: Cross-discipline Mediums: Sculpture, Performance, Installations, Film Artist-Author: reaction-lalou Exhibited: Technopolis-Industrial Museum of Athens-Greece-6th Video Art Festival 2010 Maktab Anbar Mus ...
W3637
14.05.2011
lemeh42
WWW
Here are a couple of my two new illustrations. ...
Here are a couple of my two new illustrations. ...
W3861
19.05.2011
Social Housing Concept - PRINZGAU/podgorschek
WWW
Um das Jahr 2000 gab es in Wien die Diskussion wieweit man den Gemeindebau für MigrantInnen öffnen soll. Mit einem Schlag wurde das Wiener Herz in tiefster Seele getroffen und ein heftiges Für und Wider entbrannte. Im Zuge der Geschehnisse legte ...
Um das Jahr 2000 gab es in Wien die Diskussion wieweit man den Gemeindebau für MigrantInnen öffnen soll. Mit einem Schlag wurde das Wiener Herz in tiefster Seele getroffen und ein heftiges Für und Wider entbrannte. Im Zuge der Geschehnisse legte ...
U9712
14.11.1992
Memorial - Ilya Kabakov
Unbuilt Roads
Kabakov "MEMORIAL" Short description of the project The Concept of the Project "Memorial" The Russian revolution which established the "era of Socialism" is considered to be a most important event of the twentieth century. The end of ...
Kabakov "MEMORIAL" Short description of the project The Concept of the Project "Memorial" The Russian revolution which established the "era of Socialism" is considered to be a most important event of the twentieth century. The end of ...
W3789
18.05.2011
DREAMS IN THE SEA-WITCH HOUSE-BOAT - Mollie Mckinley
WWW
In July 2010, a draft of this artwork was created as an experimental 24-hour site-specific installation in Far Rockaway, Brooklyn, curated by Jess Shaefer, former Director of Hendershot Gallery, NYC. The final and complete boat, as outlined below, has no ...
In July 2010, a draft of this artwork was created as an experimental 24-hour site-specific installation in Far Rockaway, Brooklyn, curated by Jess Shaefer, former Director of Hendershot Gallery, NYC. The final and complete boat, as outlined below, has no ...
W5076
05.09.2012
Sometimes I'm wrong - Teodoro Lupo
WWW
I was a male adolescent with a psychotherapist as a father. That lead to some conflicts. One of my favourite arguments that I can remember was: if you help a wicked person achieve a qualitative leap, does he become more or less bad? Which is the ladder yo ...
I was a male adolescent with a psychotherapist as a father. That lead to some conflicts. One of my favourite arguments that I can remember was: if you help a wicked person achieve a qualitative leap, does he become more or less bad? Which is the ladder yo ...
W4518
25.05.2011
Viktor Timofeev
WWW
In this painting I have "created" a triumphal arch constructed out of 13 worker-housing units, stacked precariously and defying the laws of physics. While this village/monument is rendered to appear structurally sound, its context is most certainly utopia ...
In this painting I have "created" a triumphal arch constructed out of 13 worker-housing units, stacked precariously and defying the laws of physics. While this village/monument is rendered to appear structurally sound, its context is most certainly utopia ...
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, ...
U9769
05.02.1997
Chen H.V.O + G.T. - Bertrand Lavier
Unbuilt Roads
J'ai [illegible] de [illegible] un faux [?]drome vous l' echangeur automatic à l'etui de la ville du Hare. [Illegible] monde itait d'accord, c'ert la virou [illegible] [?]quelle cela ne it[?] pas fuit. [illegible] 5.2.97 ...
J'ai [illegible] de [illegible] un faux [?]drome vous l' echangeur automatic à l'etui de la ville du Hare. [Illegible] monde itait d'accord, c'ert la virou [illegible] [?]quelle cela ne it[?] pas fuit. [illegible] 5.2.97 ...
W3494
11.05.2011
The New And The Always Same: Toward New Geographies of Habit - Elvia Pyburn-Wilk
WWW
The New And The Always Same: Toward New Geographies of Habit “The street signs for our event are all hand-written. The directions are painted over signs from past events. These handwritten signs are like the bus line that no longer runs.”1 --Phili ...
The New And The Always Same: Toward New Geographies of Habit “The street signs for our event are all hand-written. The directions are painted over signs from past events. These handwritten signs are like the bus line that no longer runs.”1 --Phili ...
W10632
10.07.2014
It's About Time - Joel Leibowitz
WWW
To present Time without any subjective components other than it's own process and elemental philological descriptors. Two foam modules one comprised of the letters: TI the other ME "TI" - 64 FEET HIGH X 32 FEET WIDE carrying satellite guidance equip ...
To present Time without any subjective components other than it's own process and elemental philological descriptors. Two foam modules one comprised of the letters: TI the other ME "TI" - 64 FEET HIGH X 32 FEET WIDE carrying satellite guidance equip ...
W5007
30.08.2012
Berlin Childhood - Julia Brodauf
WWW
The project "Berlin Childhood" was proposed as an exhibition idea to Vattenfall for the Turbinenhalle at the Heizkraftwerk Moabit in combination with an edition. The edition will be realised, the exhibition project not... Und die Mädels mit ihren Rol ...
The project "Berlin Childhood" was proposed as an exhibition idea to Vattenfall for the Turbinenhalle at the Heizkraftwerk Moabit in combination with an edition. The edition will be realised, the exhibition project not... Und die Mädels mit ihren Rol ...
W5259
12.10.2012
Kusmi Tea Sweet Love - Rosana Sancin
WWW
Kusmi Tea Sweet Love Concept and Location:. The project Kusmi Tea Sweet Love is a collaboration between a curator, lawyer, architect and a filmmaker based on the research conducted in Lisbon's multicultural ...
Kusmi Tea Sweet Love Concept and Location:. The project Kusmi Tea Sweet Love is a collaboration between a curator, lawyer, architect and a filmmaker based on the research conducted in Lisbon's multicultural ...
W4637
25.05.2011
Tesseract - Darr Tah Lei
WWW
Inside a Tesseract is a project for a polyptych of six installations placed inside the structure of an imaginary folding/unfolding cube. The content of the six installations will correlate to each other organically, by the composition of essential element ...
Inside a Tesseract is a project for a polyptych of six installations placed inside the structure of an imaginary folding/unfolding cube. The content of the six installations will correlate to each other organically, by the composition of essential element ...
W4602
25.05.2011
Alexander Vaindorf
WWW
"In the Shadow of the Monument" 2009 PROPOSAL # 2 Images from the solo exhibition at Art Center Gävle, Sweden. And a temporary public monument "In the shadow of the double" in City Hall Courtyard in the city of Gävle, Sweden. more info http://a ...
"In the Shadow of the Monument" 2009 PROPOSAL # 2 Images from the solo exhibition at Art Center Gävle, Sweden. And a temporary public monument "In the shadow of the double" in City Hall Courtyard in the city of Gävle, Sweden. more info http://a ...
W4546
25.05.2011
IRON CLOUD - Rick Shaefer
WWW
IRON CLOUD by Rick Shaefer ...
IRON CLOUD by Rick Shaefer ...
W3844
19.05.2011
I want to do the laundry; or rather I want to finish the laundry - Svava Thordis Juliusson
WWW
TO: Agency of Unrealized Projects I want to do the laundry; or rather I want to finish the laundry. It is a project that poses vague theoretical and aesthetic questions, but to explore possible ways to put an end to this task could forever change the t ...
TO: Agency of Unrealized Projects I want to do the laundry; or rather I want to finish the laundry. It is a project that poses vague theoretical and aesthetic questions, but to explore possible ways to put an end to this task could forever change the t ...
W4550
25.05.2011
Where Did My Husband Go...?
WWW
Where Did My Husband Go...? This two projection and six single channel video installation, based on a personally written poem entitled the same, presents images of contemporary times but reflects back to the Middle Passage, approximately 1440- 1640’s ...
Where Did My Husband Go...? This two projection and six single channel video installation, based on a personally written poem entitled the same, presents images of contemporary times but reflects back to the Middle Passage, approximately 1440- 1640’s ...
W3500
11.05.2011
MI6 – songs of british intelligence - Suzanne Treister
WWW
Suzanne Treister Director International Corporation of Lost Structures (ICOLS) www.icols.org I will inhabit an apartment inside MI6, British Intelligence HQ, located on the River Thames at Vauxhall, London, for a period of one year. Equipment in ...
Suzanne Treister Director International Corporation of Lost Structures (ICOLS) www.icols.org I will inhabit an apartment inside MI6, British Intelligence HQ, located on the River Thames at Vauxhall, London, for a period of one year. Equipment in ...
W4904
13.08.2012
Cornelia Lauf
WWW
Many years ago, I submitted a curatorial project to an open call from Vienna's Generali Foundation. My idea was to realize one dinner in the exhibition space with all the "right" people, as gallerists and museum curators of note know how to do with such p ...
Many years ago, I submitted a curatorial project to an open call from Vienna's Generali Foundation. My idea was to realize one dinner in the exhibition space with all the "right" people, as gallerists and museum curators of note know how to do with such p ...
W3813
19.05.2011
Bruce Gray
WWW
This is a wood sphere that I drilled into and mounted lots of high powered rare earth magnets. They are all facing the magnetic polarity in the same direction. There was also a large half sphere that I attached magnets with the polarity opposing the sph ...
This is a wood sphere that I drilled into and mounted lots of high powered rare earth magnets. They are all facing the magnetic polarity in the same direction. There was also a large half sphere that I attached magnets with the polarity opposing the sph ...