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.

The World Record - General Idea

Festival du film de famille - Pierre Huyghe

The Clock - Ayse Erkmen

Unrealized project for Tate Gallery + ICA, 1969 - Gilbert and George

119. PROJET DE DESTRUCTION DU MUSEE 1970 - 1971 - Jef Geys

Projet pour la Place Saint Léger à Chambery  - Erik Dietman

Nicht realisierte Projekte - Stefan Demary

The Rosetta Garden - Gary Simmons

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

MAK - Wien  - Rosemarie Trockel

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
#
Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
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” ...
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 ...
W3547
12.05.2011
Morality - Peter Dickinson
WWW
An interactive painting installation titled Morality The project is outlined at this link and a pdf with instructions on how morality would be managed can also be found on this page. http://www.peter-dickinson.co.uk/Morality.html ...
An interactive painting installation titled Morality The project is outlined at this link and a pdf with instructions on how morality would be managed can also be found on this page. http://www.peter-dickinson.co.uk/Morality.html ...
W5173
26.09.2012
Jugoslav Mitevski
WWW
W10336
18.04.2014
VISION for a new PUBLIC SCHOOL - Stijn Ank
WWW
The project space is a public secondary school in a suburban area north-west of Brussels. It's an academy of visual arts, but to many pupils, most of whom have had a troublesome school career, the school is a refuge where they can retrieve their inquisiti ...
The project space is a public secondary school in a suburban area north-west of Brussels. It's an academy of visual arts, but to many pupils, most of whom have had a troublesome school career, the school is a refuge where they can retrieve their inquisiti ...
W4135
23.05.2011
Naama Tsabar
WWW
Originaly Proposed b y Naama Tsabar for Emdash Award, Frieze art fair. This project will begin with a silent video-clip that will be sent to a musician. The video itself will be my visual reaction/interpretation to the musicians music, and will serve ...
Originaly Proposed b y Naama Tsabar for Emdash Award, Frieze art fair. This project will begin with a silent video-clip that will be sent to a musician. The video itself will be my visual reaction/interpretation to the musicians music, and will serve ...
W4674
26.05.2011
traps as artworks and artworks as traps - Daniel Rubim
WWW
“There cannot be a hammer by itself; A hammer implies on nails to be hammered, Wood to hammer them into, saw to shape the wood And so forth.” Alfred Gell – Vogel’s net: traps as artworks and artworks as traps Migrations is the process of ...
“There cannot be a hammer by itself; A hammer implies on nails to be hammered, Wood to hammer them into, saw to shape the wood And so forth.” Alfred Gell – Vogel’s net: traps as artworks and artworks as traps Migrations is the process of ...
W4973
24.08.2012
neither hidden nor visible - Jean-Charles Agboton-Jumeau
WWW
neither hidden nor visible project description: My project for the Berlin edition of AUP in collaboration with the Berliner Künstlerprogramm/ DAAD is to "document, display and/or archive" the catalogue titled January 5-31, 2009 with its label.... S ...
neither hidden nor visible project description: My project for the Berlin edition of AUP in collaboration with the Berliner Künstlerprogramm/ DAAD is to "document, display and/or archive" the catalogue titled January 5-31, 2009 with its label.... S ...
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 ...
W4799
10.11.2011
Test
WWW
This is a test. Please ignore. ...
This is a test. Please ignore. ...
W3946
20.05.2011
Balancing Act - Tricia McLaughlin
WWW
This living space design is for two people trying to balance their lives together. Every movement in this precarious space shifts that balance. Fortunately the furniture is all hinged. Even when the floor is falling out from under you, the basic amenities ...
This living space design is for two people trying to balance their lives together. Every movement in this precarious space shifts that balance. Fortunately the furniture is all hinged. Even when the floor is falling out from under you, the basic amenities ...
W4552
25.05.2011
Untitled - Charmi Gada Shah
WWW
Title: ‘Untitled’ Description: This is a sketch for a site-specific work wherein the façade of a gallery in Mumbai is superimposed by another façade in London, constructed by means of a photographic reference taken by the artist many years ago ...
Title: ‘Untitled’ Description: This is a sketch for a site-specific work wherein the façade of a gallery in Mumbai is superimposed by another façade in London, constructed by means of a photographic reference taken by the artist many years ago ...
W5400
20.10.2012
WHITE CUBE RESEARCH - Pascal Unbehaun
WWW
This project was never realized. My work is close to theory, so the idea was to work in a temporary research institute in the exhibition context. I wanted to invite fellow researchers to work together. Finally, after the show ended, we would publish our r ...
This project was never realized. My work is close to theory, so the idea was to work in a temporary research institute in the exhibition context. I wanted to invite fellow researchers to work together. Finally, after the show ended, we would publish our r ...
W5154
24.09.2012
Borrowing the land - Joe Tymkow
WWW
This proposal was submitted to the 2012 UK Cultural Olympiad under the heading 'Artists Taking the Lead'. If chosen/realized it would have represented the largest piece of Land Art to date. ...
This proposal was submitted to the 2012 UK Cultural Olympiad under the heading 'Artists Taking the Lead'. If chosen/realized it would have represented the largest piece of Land Art to date. ...
W4592
25.05.2011
Gap Ecology - David Brooks
WWW
Gap Ecology (5 Still Lives with Cherry Pickers and Palms) Conceptual Context: The current recession has halted dozens of construction projects around New York City at an alarming rate. The Building Trades Employersʼ Association is reporting nearly $5 b ...
Gap Ecology (5 Still Lives with Cherry Pickers and Palms) Conceptual Context: The current recession has halted dozens of construction projects around New York City at an alarming rate. The Building Trades Employersʼ Association is reporting nearly $5 b ...
W4151
23.05.2011
The Treason of Images - Cornford & Cross
WWW
We were invited to submit a proposal for the Imperial War Museum, London, Commission on the aftermath of 11 September and war in Afghanistan. We proposed to install a short section of oil pipeline in Afghanistan, somewhere along one of the intended route ...
We were invited to submit a proposal for the Imperial War Museum, London, Commission on the aftermath of 11 September and war in Afghanistan. We proposed to install a short section of oil pipeline in Afghanistan, somewhere along one of the intended route ...
W3613
13.05.2011
DINEDROMOSCOPE - Francesco Spampinato
WWW
Dinedromoscope (from Greek: δινη, “vortex”, δρομοs, “run” e σkοπη, “to examine”) PLAN A Dinedromoscope is a project destined to the involvement of the visitors of the Guggenheim Museum, New York, who are invited to throw thems ...
Dinedromoscope (from Greek: δινη, “vortex”, δρομοs, “run” e σkοπη, “to examine”) PLAN A Dinedromoscope is a project destined to the involvement of the visitors of the Guggenheim Museum, New York, who are invited to throw thems ...
W4698
26.05.2011
Jacqueline Hoang Nguyen
WWW
As part of my residency at L’appartement 22 between November 24th - December 14th, 2009 I intended to conduct a research-based residency. The residency studio/apartment is located across the street from the Moroccan Parliament.... ...
As part of my residency at L’appartement 22 between November 24th - December 14th, 2009 I intended to conduct a research-based residency. The residency studio/apartment is located across the street from the Moroccan Parliament.... ...
W4241
24.05.2011
Atsunobu KOHIRA
WWW
Le projet que je propose est une installation sonore dans un paysage naturel qui reprend le fonctionnement d’une horloge. Le jour commence et finit par la cloche de l’église, ou le temple qui indique les horaires tous les jours dans la vie quoti ...
Le projet que je propose est une installation sonore dans un paysage naturel qui reprend le fonctionnement d’une horloge. Le jour commence et finit par la cloche de l’église, ou le temple qui indique les horaires tous les jours dans la vie quoti ...
W3799
18.05.2011
PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION OF THE STONE CIRCLES OF SENEGAL AND THE GAMBIA - Kerry Stuart Coppin
WWW
Panoramic Documentation of The Stone Circles of Senegal and The Gambia: I propose to extend visual research to a region of the continent not well known - a little documented rural region. One of five sites in Africa recently (2006) declared Unesco World ...
Panoramic Documentation of The Stone Circles of Senegal and The Gambia: I propose to extend visual research to a region of the continent not well known - a little documented rural region. One of five sites in Africa recently (2006) declared Unesco World ...
W5092
11.09.2012
seductive against the grain - Harald Schole
WWW
¿Station at odds? Research and proposals for the South-Axis, Amsterdam The development of the great public transit stations of the present century can be compared to development processes of large urban complexes. The station area of the future will i ...
¿Station at odds? Research and proposals for the South-Axis, Amsterdam The development of the great public transit stations of the present century can be compared to development processes of large urban complexes. The station area of the future will i ...
W5344
18.10.2012
Lito Kattou & Leontios Toumpouris
WWW
The artist in his effort to acquire conscience of his identity addresses to the Other. The elliptic dimension of the Other does not induce the desired result, the fulfillment, the coverage of the void. He becomes aware of his inability to realize this des ...
The artist in his effort to acquire conscience of his identity addresses to the Other. The elliptic dimension of the Other does not induce the desired result, the fulfillment, the coverage of the void. He becomes aware of his inability to realize this des ...
W5166
25.09.2012
Theoretical Earth ... - John Andrew
WWW
This written work is a brief text scenario presenting an alternate reality for genuine observers: Theoretical Earth … If Sun Ra had been given the attention and opportunity instead of Elvis. ...
This written work is a brief text scenario presenting an alternate reality for genuine observers: Theoretical Earth … If Sun Ra had been given the attention and opportunity instead of Elvis. ...
W4852
08.08.2012
Ada Muntean
WWW
These are 2 photos of 2 experimental works which consist in the process of the reconstruction of possible realities from former realities. Basicaly they are stripes (cut from photos and drawings) reordered and sticked in a different way from the initial.. ...
These are 2 photos of 2 experimental works which consist in the process of the reconstruction of possible realities from former realities. Basicaly they are stripes (cut from photos and drawings) reordered and sticked in a different way from the initial.. ...
W5435
20.10.2012
ART FOR THE CITY - Matej Metlikovič
WWW
Unrealised projects ART FOR THE CITY, 2008 I'm sending you two photos of the unrealised projects created in 2008 on the theme »Art for the city«. The Society of Ljubljana's visual artists invited artists of Ljubljana to contribute ideas how to make ...
Unrealised projects ART FOR THE CITY, 2008 I'm sending you two photos of the unrealised projects created in 2008 on the theme »Art for the city«. The Society of Ljubljana's visual artists invited artists of Ljubljana to contribute ideas how to make ...
U9759
06.04.1997
Monument to Democracy - Kounellis
Unbuilt Roads
La scultura doveva essere posata davanti alla nuova ala del parlamento olandese di Den Haag. Sono partito dalla struttura ampia, di grande presenza, degll fumaioli che si vedevano sui tetto del vecchio parlamento. Questa strutture architectonica era diven ...
La scultura doveva essere posata davanti alla nuova ala del parlamento olandese di Den Haag. Sono partito dalla struttura ampia, di grande presenza, degll fumaioli che si vedevano sui tetto del vecchio parlamento. Questa strutture architectonica era diven ...