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.

Post Photographic apparatus - Steven Pippin

The World is a Theater and we each have a role - Louise Bourgeois

CIVITAS Stadtpostkarten - Lothar Baumgarten

MAK - Wien  - Rosemarie Trockel

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

Projet pour la Place Saint Léger à Chambery  - Erik Dietman

Memorial - Ilya Kabakov

Eight Days a Week - Joe Scanlan

Unrealized Turtles 1967 - Joseph Grigely

Entwurf für einen erneuerten Malkasten 1992 - 1994 - Ulrike Holthöfer

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
#
Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W3549
12.05.2011
Portrait of a village in contemporary art - Eugen Alupopanu
WWW
My project proposal was "Portrait of a village in contemporary art" in which I wanted to use typical means of photography as document and translate them into visual art language, namely painting. In short, I wanted to photograph all the people in the vill ...
My project proposal was "Portrait of a village in contemporary art" in which I wanted to use typical means of photography as document and translate them into visual art language, namely painting. In short, I wanted to photograph all the people in the vill ...
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 ...
W3556
12.05.2011
Breakdown: A Prototypical Monument to the Open Road - John Landewe
WWW
Proposal John Landewe 152 Douglass St. Brooklyn, NY 917.676.950 Breakdown: A Prototypical Monument to the Open Road Breakdown is a self-contained, nomadic monument dedicated to industrial-strength mobility and the acceleration of the postmodern c ...
Proposal John Landewe 152 Douglass St. Brooklyn, NY 917.676.950 Breakdown: A Prototypical Monument to the Open Road Breakdown is a self-contained, nomadic monument dedicated to industrial-strength mobility and the acceleration of the postmodern c ...
W4226
24.05.2011
Round CD or DVD Fountain - Alex Hamilton
WWW
Round CD or DVD Fountain I’ve noticed some financial institutions in Germany (Stuttgart is one) have a large (1 to 1 & half meter) granite sphere revolving in a perfectly fitting “cup” lubricated by a bed of water, outside near the front entrance. ...
Round CD or DVD Fountain I’ve noticed some financial institutions in Germany (Stuttgart is one) have a large (1 to 1 & half meter) granite sphere revolving in a perfectly fitting “cup” lubricated by a bed of water, outside near the front entrance. ...
W4491
25.05.2011
An unrealized high relief sculpture project from Istanbul. - Dilara Akay
WWW
An unrealized high relief sculpture project from Istanbul. In October 2010 I was asked to propose a work for a building of a leading Turkish retail operation brand's headquarters in Istanbul. I made the presentation at the beginning of February 2011. And ...
An unrealized high relief sculpture project from Istanbul. In October 2010 I was asked to propose a work for a building of a leading Turkish retail operation brand's headquarters in Istanbul. I made the presentation at the beginning of February 2011. And ...
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 ...
W5099
13.09.2012
Seal of Salomon - Copa & Sordes
WWW
another idea for an ornament in public space See PDF ...
another idea for an ornament in public space See PDF ...
W4273
24.05.2011
Hector Zamora
WWW
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 ...
W4051
22.05.2011
stoop - leo Morrissey
WWW
stoop; concept inspired by the tradition of sitting on the front steps of homes and talking with neighbors that I experienced growing up in a row home in Philadelphia. I proposal to build a stoop: Approximately 64” high House shaped bench with two s ...
stoop; concept inspired by the tradition of sitting on the front steps of homes and talking with neighbors that I experienced growing up in a row home in Philadelphia. I proposal to build a stoop: Approximately 64” high House shaped bench with two s ...
W3806
18.05.2011
(Home)Squat Residency - Melissa Wyman
WWW
(Home)Squat Residency What it is: (Home)Squat Residency is a framework for artists to find their own residency opportunities and another model of patronage for art enthusiasts. (Anyone can follow this model.) How it works: This project follow ...
(Home)Squat Residency What it is: (Home)Squat Residency is a framework for artists to find their own residency opportunities and another model of patronage for art enthusiasts. (Anyone can follow this model.) How it works: This project follow ...
W4030
22.05.2011
The Grand Tour - Holly Crawford
WWW
Preliminary Proposal The Grand Tour In the current global art market only the very wealthy and select and limited number of curators may participate fully. At the fairs there are VIP lounges were you may get a message, have a snack and a glass of ...
Preliminary Proposal The Grand Tour In the current global art market only the very wealthy and select and limited number of curators may participate fully. At the fairs there are VIP lounges were you may get a message, have a snack and a glass of ...
W5271
14.10.2012
Amanda Karlsson, Anton Bergendahl
WWW
During the fall of 2012, the swedish artist Amanda Karlsson and the swedish musician Anton Bergendahl has been working on a collaboration between music and art. They both grew up in small swedish cities with a strong desire towards something bigger... ...
During the fall of 2012, the swedish artist Amanda Karlsson and the swedish musician Anton Bergendahl has been working on a collaboration between music and art. They both grew up in small swedish cities with a strong desire towards something bigger... ...
W3917
20.05.2011
Europe Park / sculpture and landscape - THEODOULOS Gregoriou
WWW
The proposal was prepared for the international sculpture and landscaping competition for the Europe Park, which the Municipality of Nicosia (Cyprus) held in 2006 for the design of a grove on a central road in Nicosia. The motive was the accession of Cypr ...
The proposal was prepared for the international sculpture and landscaping competition for the Europe Park, which the Municipality of Nicosia (Cyprus) held in 2006 for the design of a grove on a central road in Nicosia. The motive was the accession of Cypr ...
W3695
16.05.2011
Vladimar and Rosa (2011) - Anne Colvin
WWW
Vladimar and Rosa (2011) is a fictional dance company created and produced by artist Anne Colvin. Their first production "The Kids Play Russian" will never be realized. A hybrid dance installation influenced by experimental film strategies plays out as f ...
Vladimar and Rosa (2011) is a fictional dance company created and produced by artist Anne Colvin. Their first production "The Kids Play Russian" will never be realized. A hybrid dance installation influenced by experimental film strategies plays out as f ...
W3910
20.05.2011
Dutton and Swindells
WWW
A list of all the possible endings of everything that could ever end. Impossible to complete of course, in the positivity of its construction it undoes its negation and is always becoming something new. ...
A list of all the possible endings of everything that could ever end. Impossible to complete of course, in the positivity of its construction it undoes its negation and is always becoming something new. ...
U9503
01.01.1997
NON REALIZED PROJECTS - Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Unbuilt Roads
1964-66 Two Lower Manhattan Wrapped Buildings, Project for New York, U.S.A. 1967 Wrapped Galleria Nazionale, Project for Rome, Italy. Ponte Sant' Angelo Wrapped, Project for Rome, Italy. Wrapped Trees, Project for Washington Pa ...
1964-66 Two Lower Manhattan Wrapped Buildings, Project for New York, U.S.A. 1967 Wrapped Galleria Nazionale, Project for Rome, Italy. Ponte Sant' Angelo Wrapped, Project for Rome, Italy. Wrapped Trees, Project for Washington Pa ...
W3694
16.05.2011
Doppler Symphony - leo fitzmaurice
WWW
Proposal The proposal is to overlay two Doppler Effect * phenomena (change in pitch and volume) onto a piece of music. Process Start with a multi-track recording of a piece of music (one track per instrument) Split each track of the recording ...
Proposal The proposal is to overlay two Doppler Effect * phenomena (change in pitch and volume) onto a piece of music. Process Start with a multi-track recording of a piece of music (one track per instrument) Split each track of the recording ...
W3729
18.05.2011
“Minaret” - Felippe Moraes
WWW
The installation “Minaret” is constituted by a single scaffold 7m high with 2 pairs of stereo speakers in its top emitting simultaneously an African drum counting the prime numbers starting 2, 3, 5, 7, 11… going up to … 89, 97, 101 ...
The installation “Minaret” is constituted by a single scaffold 7m high with 2 pairs of stereo speakers in its top emitting simultaneously an African drum counting the prime numbers starting 2, 3, 5, 7, 11… going up to … 89, 97, 101 ...
W5447
20.10.2012
Caution work in progress - Geraldo Zamproni
WWW
Caution work in progress Passively invites the viewer to turn to touch in order to satisfy an inevitable curiosity about what is being done. There is a strong sense of this logic does not work, it will foam that wall? ...
Caution work in progress Passively invites the viewer to turn to touch in order to satisfy an inevitable curiosity about what is being done. There is a strong sense of this logic does not work, it will foam that wall? ...
W4346
24.05.2011
Sane Jung
WWW
Through my art, I can go fishing, I can eat burgers, I can play with balls, I can go to the sea and go to mountain. I can meet people and talk to people, I can see the sky and I can see the moon. How gorgeous it is and what a wonderful, exciting privilege ...
Through my art, I can go fishing, I can eat burgers, I can play with balls, I can go to the sea and go to mountain. I can meet people and talk to people, I can see the sky and I can see the moon. How gorgeous it is and what a wonderful, exciting privilege ...
W4759
27.05.2011
One Thousand Worlds in 16 minutes and 40 seconds - Nuala Clarke
WWW
TITLE: One Thousand Worlds in 16 minutes and 40 seconds FORM: A video installation in which 10 screens of indeterminate size are arranged site specifically. Each screen shows, for one second at a time, one of 1000 small square paintings from the exist ...
TITLE: One Thousand Worlds in 16 minutes and 40 seconds FORM: A video installation in which 10 screens of indeterminate size are arranged site specifically. Each screen shows, for one second at a time, one of 1000 small square paintings from the exist ...
W3730
18.05.2011
“Priceless”, a proposal - Ama Saru Hsiao Chen
WWW
A proposal for an art fair. The difference between collections initiated through private sector and public fund raises concern of artworks value. As when artwork is purchased by a collector, it automatically obtains market value for future economic act ...
A proposal for an art fair. The difference between collections initiated through private sector and public fund raises concern of artworks value. As when artwork is purchased by a collector, it automatically obtains market value for future economic act ...
W3864
19.05.2011
Nova Jiang
WWW
A rejected finalist proposal for a public sculpture designed by the public online. Each online participant determines the shape of a sculptural element, which can be assembled by visitors to the park. ...
A rejected finalist proposal for a public sculpture designed by the public online. Each online participant determines the shape of a sculptural element, which can be assembled by visitors to the park. ...
W11006
26.03.2016
Monetarium - Amitesh Grover
WWW
What happens when we stop believing in money altogether? Monetarium is an urgent situation - An auction situation for the money. Let us think of this proposal as an invitation for an assembly - a curated, carefully selected group of people who are invited ...
What happens when we stop believing in money altogether? Monetarium is an urgent situation - An auction situation for the money. Let us think of this proposal as an invitation for an assembly - a curated, carefully selected group of people who are invited ...
W4379
25.05.2011
“Shifting Images of Marseille”  - Srinivas Mangipudi
WWW
Project Proposal: “Shifting Images of Marseille” The urban city areas are often filled with cars and vehicles of all kinds parked in different places, like parking lots, on the streets, or just moving on the road. These can be turned into dynamic ...
Project Proposal: “Shifting Images of Marseille” The urban city areas are often filled with cars and vehicles of all kinds parked in different places, like parking lots, on the streets, or just moving on the road. These can be turned into dynamic ...