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.

PROPOSALl + VOORSTEL - Guillame Bijl

Attitudine Diplomatica - Hermann Pitz

Cruzeiro Do Sul, (Southern Cross) (Crucero del Sur) 1969-70* - Cildo Meireles

PROJEKT - Ulrich Rückreim

Time Magazine Cover - Robert Rauschenberg

Monument with Rust - Gustav Metzger

Grand Concours International D'Architecture  - Mahe Gilles

2 Architecture Towers - Robert Irwin

City Hall Tower Night Ilumination - Krysztof Wodiczko

Electronic Theater - Laurie Anderson

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
#
Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
U9853
01.01.1972
Progetto per Gerry Schum - Guiseppe Penone
Unbuilt Roads
Ogni anno un giro di 60" attorno ad un albero seguendo un cerchio fisso. Le riprese montate in successione anno per anno testimoniano la crescita concentrica del tronco. Progetto per Gerry Schum. Novembre 1972. Giuseppe Penone ...
Ogni anno un giro di 60" attorno ad un albero seguendo un cerchio fisso. Le riprese montate in successione anno per anno testimoniano la crescita concentrica del tronco. Progetto per Gerry Schum. Novembre 1972. Giuseppe Penone ...
W4138
23.05.2011
No manʼs land - Constanza Alarcón Tennen
WWW
No manʼs land This installation was projected for Sala SAM, a gallery in Santiago de Chile, to be exhibited in August 2010. Because of the abrupt closure of the gallery, the Project was stoped a month before opening. No manʼs land was based in the obs ...
No manʼs land This installation was projected for Sala SAM, a gallery in Santiago de Chile, to be exhibited in August 2010. Because of the abrupt closure of the gallery, the Project was stoped a month before opening. No manʼs land was based in the obs ...
W3583
13.05.2011
Green Architecture - Francesco Fossati
WWW
wall installation variable dimensions water pain on wall and oil on paper transfered on wooden tables (26 x 19 cm each element) The project consists of a large installation that runs on the walls, creating a visually stunning work of able to relate g ...
wall installation variable dimensions water pain on wall and oil on paper transfered on wooden tables (26 x 19 cm each element) The project consists of a large installation that runs on the walls, creating a visually stunning work of able to relate g ...
W3915
20.05.2011
Gorica Orsholits
WWW
This is one of my first projects where I tried to reflect on my personal emotional state towards the war in Bosnia (1992-1995), and the notion of constantly “living between two wars" experiences by many generations born in the turmoil Balkan region. ...
This is one of my first projects where I tried to reflect on my personal emotional state towards the war in Bosnia (1992-1995), and the notion of constantly “living between two wars" experiences by many generations born in the turmoil Balkan region. ...
W4706
26.05.2011
Subway Turnstile Sounds - Sasha Sumner
WWW
Subway Turnstile Sounds - Sasha Sumner © 2011 Imagine paying/swiping your subway card, and instead of hearing the generic beep of the NYC subway turnstile, you hear a strange or beautiful or fun sound. In a row of turnstiles, as more people go through, ...
Subway Turnstile Sounds - Sasha Sumner © 2011 Imagine paying/swiping your subway card, and instead of hearing the generic beep of the NYC subway turnstile, you hear a strange or beautiful or fun sound. In a row of turnstiles, as more people go through, ...
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. ...
W4095
23.05.2011
UNREALIZEABLE PROJECT A000013 - Stefano W. Pasquini
WWW
UNREALIZEABLE PROJECT A000013. As the political times have changed after 911, even my Unrealizeable Projects reflected this change. This one plays with the difficulties foreigners face when trying to move to the United States nowadays. ...
UNREALIZEABLE PROJECT A000013. As the political times have changed after 911, even my Unrealizeable Projects reflected this change. This one plays with the difficulties foreigners face when trying to move to the United States nowadays. ...
W5061
03.09.2012
The story of an aspirant - Eni Turkeshi
WWW
The story of an aspirant A waiting woman prolonged expectations delayed wishes nurtured hopes infidelity cracks broken hearts plastered again and again with love stripes unslaked fire never ending longing resurrecting Phoenix the story of a wo ...
The story of an aspirant A waiting woman prolonged expectations delayed wishes nurtured hopes infidelity cracks broken hearts plastered again and again with love stripes unslaked fire never ending longing resurrecting Phoenix the story of a wo ...
W3819
19.05.2011
raphaele cohen-bacry
WWW
This is an example of the 50 dolls I made between 2007 and 2010. I used ‘’ugly’’, standardized dolls made in China and was interested in turning them into unique ‘’hand-made’’ dolls with a lot of personality and character. Each measures 4X ...
This is an example of the 50 dolls I made between 2007 and 2010. I used ‘’ugly’’, standardized dolls made in China and was interested in turning them into unique ‘’hand-made’’ dolls with a lot of personality and character. Each measures 4X ...
W4657
25.05.2011
BLUE LASER LIGHT PIECE - Karen Gunderson
WWW
BLUE LASER LIGHT PIECE The location could be any small town or an area of a big town which has buildings that house many different religions. Sites: The highest point on each of the religious buildings. Materials: Blue laser light mechanisms, power ...
BLUE LASER LIGHT PIECE The location could be any small town or an area of a big town which has buildings that house many different religions. Sites: The highest point on each of the religious buildings. Materials: Blue laser light mechanisms, power ...
W4648
25.05.2011
NATURE CAN ALL  - Urssa Severa
WWW
NATURE CAN ALL A Land art project by Urssa Severa A land art project that aims to interrogate Nature as a representative of God´s masterpiece about its own contradictions. Intervention #1 A symbolist or abstract approach will be proposed, where two phr ...
NATURE CAN ALL A Land art project by Urssa Severa A land art project that aims to interrogate Nature as a representative of God´s masterpiece about its own contradictions. Intervention #1 A symbolist or abstract approach will be proposed, where two phr ...
W5441
20.10.2012
Sp@rt - Mo Abd-Ulla
WWW
Sp@rt is a multifaceted programme set within inspiration of London 2012 Olympic games. It consists of urban interventions within the city of London, exhibition, performances, lectures, discussions, and new techniques for mediating the public’s reactions ...
Sp@rt is a multifaceted programme set within inspiration of London 2012 Olympic games. It consists of urban interventions within the city of London, exhibition, performances, lectures, discussions, and new techniques for mediating the public’s reactions ...
W5124
18.09.2012
Leaching The Grease Out Of A Cheese Pyramid - Michael Arata
WWW
"Leaching The Grease Out Of A Cheese Pyramid" 1991-2012 The project (1991) consisted of ten pounds of white cheddar cheese carved into the shape of a stepped pyramid. The pyramid was placed on a 30 inch stack of newspapers bound together with braide ...
"Leaching The Grease Out Of A Cheese Pyramid" 1991-2012 The project (1991) consisted of ten pounds of white cheddar cheese carved into the shape of a stepped pyramid. The pyramid was placed on a 30 inch stack of newspapers bound together with braide ...
W4280
24.05.2011
Vision and Vernacular: Eight African American Artists in Venice - Martha Henry
WWW
American Folk Art Museum Presents Vision and Vernacular: Eight African American Artists in Venice Four Self-Taught Visionaries: Lonnie Holley, Mr. Imagination, Charlie Lucas, Kevin Sampson American culture, values and spirituality c ...
American Folk Art Museum Presents Vision and Vernacular: Eight African American Artists in Venice Four Self-Taught Visionaries: Lonnie Holley, Mr. Imagination, Charlie Lucas, Kevin Sampson American culture, values and spirituality c ...
W4109
23.05.2011
Floating Gardens of Rock City - Liliane Lijn
WWW
Floating Gardens of Rock City 1970 63.5 x 53 cm Collaged newspaper / magazine cuttings mounted on coloured card Exhibited in Propositions for Unrealised Projects Howard Wise Gallery, New York A set of four collages in which I visualised transform ...
Floating Gardens of Rock City 1970 63.5 x 53 cm Collaged newspaper / magazine cuttings mounted on coloured card Exhibited in Propositions for Unrealised Projects Howard Wise Gallery, New York A set of four collages in which I visualised transform ...
W4259
24.05.2011
Why leave the shelter? - Arcady Kotler
WWW
Why leave the shelter? (The Tale of the construction of my shell) I don’t even remember when construction of the shelter started, but it happened somehow unnoticeably. When I was young it was nothing like a fortress, but just big opened space with e ...
Why leave the shelter? (The Tale of the construction of my shell) I don’t even remember when construction of the shelter started, but it happened somehow unnoticeably. When I was young it was nothing like a fortress, but just big opened space with e ...
W3667
15.05.2011
Breathing (1988) - Joanna Frueh
WWW
This piece is an unpresented performance. Breathing (1988) A Proposal for a Performance by Joanna Frueh and Russell Dudley Written by Joanna Frueh A restaurant table for two, with one chair on either side, sits center stage. A vase holding a large ...
This piece is an unpresented performance. Breathing (1988) A Proposal for a Performance by Joanna Frueh and Russell Dudley Written by Joanna Frueh A restaurant table for two, with one chair on either side, sits center stage. A vase holding a large ...
W4305
24.05.2011
BENEATH SAND AND SEA - Holger C. Lönze
WWW
BENEATH SAND AND SEA INTRODUCTION The proposed project is set within the physical and social context of Portobello Beach and intends to bring an aspect of the area’s hidden history back out into the light. It focuses on the historic Portobello Harbo ...
BENEATH SAND AND SEA INTRODUCTION The proposed project is set within the physical and social context of Portobello Beach and intends to bring an aspect of the area’s hidden history back out into the light. It focuses on the historic Portobello Harbo ...
W4638
25.05.2011
SITUTOPIK - DEHOVE Claire
WWW
SITUTOPIK L’école-cité de l’imaginaire et de la citoyenneté. Projet du 1 % ARTISTIQUE DU COLLEGE EUGENE VIGNE A BEAUCAIRE Claire Dehove avec Loraine Djidi ...
SITUTOPIK L’école-cité de l’imaginaire et de la citoyenneté. Projet du 1 % ARTISTIQUE DU COLLEGE EUGENE VIGNE A BEAUCAIRE Claire Dehove avec Loraine Djidi ...
W4096
23.05.2011
Stefano W. Pasquini
WWW
UNREALIZEABLE PROJECT A000014: a new mountain gets built in a country that has no mountains, another way of saying thank you to the little welcoming world of contemporary art. (2004) This is my last submission, if you need further explanations feel fre ...
UNREALIZEABLE PROJECT A000014: a new mountain gets built in a country that has no mountains, another way of saying thank you to the little welcoming world of contemporary art. (2004) This is my last submission, if you need further explanations feel fre ...
W4284
24.05.2011
Mr. Imagination’s Arch of Unity - Mr. Imagination (Gregory Warmack)
WWW
Mr. Imagination (Gregory Warmack) Mr. Imagination’s Arch of Unity Proposal for Vision and Vernacular Eight African American Artists in Venice Presented by American Folk Art Museum at Fondaco dei Tedeschi, June 2011 Artist Statement The su ...
Mr. Imagination (Gregory Warmack) Mr. Imagination’s Arch of Unity Proposal for Vision and Vernacular Eight African American Artists in Venice Presented by American Folk Art Museum at Fondaco dei Tedeschi, June 2011 Artist Statement The su ...
W4563
25.05.2011
darius
WWW
Well, I do not know nevertheless I tend to imagine it being not. As for me, life seems to be a continuous experience. I suppose, if you’re only interested in the individual – arguably a rather crude segregation. But isn’t it also true ...
Well, I do not know nevertheless I tend to imagine it being not. As for me, life seems to be a continuous experience. I suppose, if you’re only interested in the individual – arguably a rather crude segregation. But isn’t it also true ...
W4067
23.05.2011
Graffiti Saving - János Sugár
WWW
Writing texts on the wall has a tremendous tradition in the folklore of big cities. It is one of the simplest ways to express freedom; the creators communicate with every citizen of the city in principle. They turn an intrinsically illegible town legible. ...
Writing texts on the wall has a tremendous tradition in the folklore of big cities. It is one of the simplest ways to express freedom; the creators communicate with every citizen of the city in principle. They turn an intrinsically illegible town legible. ...
U9238
01.01.1994
PROJECT FOR A COMMUNITY CENTER, AVENUE DES NARCISSES, CHENOVE - Vito Acconci
Unbuilt Roads
Vito Acconci & Studio (Luis Vera, Jenny Schrider, Charles Doherty; with James Harrison, Jennifer Zackin, Jean Hahn) COMMUNITY CENTER, AVENUE DES NARCISSES, CHENOVE, FRANCE 1994 (To be built, 1998) Grass, trees, concrete, asphalt, steel, glass, lights, ...
Vito Acconci & Studio (Luis Vera, Jenny Schrider, Charles Doherty; with James Harrison, Jennifer Zackin, Jean Hahn) COMMUNITY CENTER, AVENUE DES NARCISSES, CHENOVE, FRANCE 1994 (To be built, 1998) Grass, trees, concrete, asphalt, steel, glass, lights, ...
W5142
21.09.2012
The White Box - Vdrey feat Schultz
WWW
PRESENTATION This performance created in 2010 by musician and performer VDREY and SCHULTZ was presented in 2010 and 2011 in various countries such as France, Austria, Germany, Switzerland or Poland. In order to made a new alternative to their perfo ...
PRESENTATION This performance created in 2010 by musician and performer VDREY and SCHULTZ was presented in 2010 and 2011 in various countries such as France, Austria, Germany, Switzerland or Poland. In order to made a new alternative to their perfo ...
W4749
27.05.2011
Residual Geometries or the fable of the passenger, the cattle and, and the resource consumed. - Julain Santana
WWW
Public Space Intervention (The synopsis is in Spanish for now, but the English translation will be ready the next week) I have no budget or a potential sponsor for this artistic intervention. In essence this is a look into a public space in which rais ...
Public Space Intervention (The synopsis is in Spanish for now, but the English translation will be ready the next week) I have no budget or a potential sponsor for this artistic intervention. In essence this is a look into a public space in which rais ...