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 pyramids...to be seen to be believed - Jonathan Monk

A House of Dust - Alison Knowles

The Rosetta Garden - Gary Simmons

Placid Earth: A Project for the Meeting of Millennia - Cai Guo Quiang

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

Relatum (Iron Plate and Stone) - Lee Ufan

Dog Jaw Monument - A Futurist Tele-introject - Leon Golub

To Two Too; Hypothetical Monument for a Natural Disaster - Jeffrey Wisniewski

Electronic Theater - Laurie Anderson

Projet pour la Place Saint Léger à Chambery  - Erik Dietman

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W3982
21.05.2011
Kay Malek
WWW
This is a singular state of a project that will never be finished. ...
This is a singular state of a project that will never be finished. ...
W4668
25.05.2011
The Hope Tree of New Fribourg - MomenTech
WWW
"The Hope Tree of New Fribourg" ("Árvore Esperança de Nova Friburgo") Commemorates the Relationship Between the Sister Cities of Fribourg, Switzerland, sister city, Nova Friburgo, Brazil "Hope is the last to die." -- Portuguese proverb NEW YORK, ...
"The Hope Tree of New Fribourg" ("Árvore Esperança de Nova Friburgo") Commemorates the Relationship Between the Sister Cities of Fribourg, Switzerland, sister city, Nova Friburgo, Brazil "Hope is the last to die." -- Portuguese proverb NEW YORK, ...
W4424
25.05.2011
Brianne Mackinnon
WWW
To extend the concepts of primary and secondary information associated to the distribution of conceptual art in the 1960's, an exhibition invitation will be distributed with the image of text through skywriting, "Opening Event, April 30, 6pm". When attend ...
To extend the concepts of primary and secondary information associated to the distribution of conceptual art in the 1960's, an exhibition invitation will be distributed with the image of text through skywriting, "Opening Event, April 30, 6pm". When attend ...
W3787
18.05.2011
diSTRUKTURA
WWW
We would like to propose a situation in which we would place a landscape of a proposed city surrounding area under video surveillance. We are MA’s of Departments of Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Arts, Belgrade. We live in Belgrade, S ...
We would like to propose a situation in which we would place a landscape of a proposed city surrounding area under video surveillance. We are MA’s of Departments of Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Arts, Belgrade. We live in Belgrade, S ...
W4718
26.05.2011
Blue Cries - Eduardo Villanueva
WWW
Blue cries Film scenario Study of the materie- antimaterie, by Eduardo Villanueva. The basic Idea here is to retake the vision of the Air Architecture project made by Yves Klein, who investigated the possibilities of immaterial architecture, makin ...
Blue cries Film scenario Study of the materie- antimaterie, by Eduardo Villanueva. The basic Idea here is to retake the vision of the Air Architecture project made by Yves Klein, who investigated the possibilities of immaterial architecture, makin ...
W4266
24.05.2011
M86 - Samuel Levack and Jennifer Lewandowski
WWW
A Proposal – M86 As the end of the year is culled, we invite a fresh adventure. A journey, to the heart of the UK landscape. A journey, through the blood metaphor. We propose: a one-week road trip in which we will visit the site of all 86 of the se ...
A Proposal – M86 As the end of the year is culled, we invite a fresh adventure. A journey, to the heart of the UK landscape. A journey, through the blood metaphor. We propose: a one-week road trip in which we will visit the site of all 86 of the se ...
W5070
05.09.2012
Unterirdischer Birkenwald / Subterranean Birch Forest - Römer + Römer
WWW
Unterirdischer Birkenwald / Subterranean Birch Forest Unrealized: Land Art Project Realized: Print of Wallpaper (1.80 m x 150 m) RÖMER + RÖMER, 2005 „Unterirdischer Birkenwald”
 Als Landartprojekt planten RÖMER & RÖMER den Bau eines Deich ...
Unterirdischer Birkenwald / Subterranean Birch Forest Unrealized: Land Art Project Realized: Print of Wallpaper (1.80 m x 150 m) RÖMER + RÖMER, 2005 „Unterirdischer Birkenwald”
 Als Landartprojekt planten RÖMER & RÖMER den Bau eines Deich ...
W4082
23.05.2011
Mohamed Ibrahim Elmasry
WWW
Book is based on Arabic calligraphy and images to produce a book works on notice of the Heritage Logistic requirements Human resources:- This includes the job titles and job description The model:- We will contact a various number of actors, act ...
Book is based on Arabic calligraphy and images to produce a book works on notice of the Heritage Logistic requirements Human resources:- This includes the job titles and job description The model:- We will contact a various number of actors, act ...
W4719
26.05.2011
We Might Be Snowmakers - Glacial Risk Management Institute (GRMI): Angela Ellsworth and Leigh McCarthy
WWW
Glacial Risk Management Institute (GRMI): Angela Ellsworth and Leigh McCarthy Title: We Might Be Snowmakers In order to slow or reverse the retreat of glaciers, the GRMI proposes setting up large-scale snow blowers to increase the size of Europe’s la ...
Glacial Risk Management Institute (GRMI): Angela Ellsworth and Leigh McCarthy Title: We Might Be Snowmakers In order to slow or reverse the retreat of glaciers, the GRMI proposes setting up large-scale snow blowers to increase the size of Europe’s la ...
W5216
06.10.2012
Zeitseeing - Gisela Weimann
WWW
I am interested in the interplay between objects and sounds and movement in time and space. Word games and the change of classical musical formats with an ironic undertone are often part of my projects. ...
I am interested in the interplay between objects and sounds and movement in time and space. Word games and the change of classical musical formats with an ironic undertone are often part of my projects. ...
W4162
23.05.2011
Claire Ferguson
WWW
a man catches a glimpse of a woman. he thinks of her for a few seconds and then doesn’t. she is just someone he has seen. some time later, he sees her again. this time for longer. only for a few seconds longer. he thinks about her for longer. at first, ...
a man catches a glimpse of a woman. he thinks of her for a few seconds and then doesn’t. she is just someone he has seen. some time later, he sees her again. this time for longer. only for a few seconds longer. he thinks about her for longer. at first, ...
W5161
24.09.2012
BIO for Viscera Film Festival - Jasmine Hirst
WWW
Jasmine Hirst: BIO for Viscera Film Festival New York underground artist Jasmine Hirst's ten-year correspondence with serial killer Aileen Wuornos leads to an intimate and mesmerizing interview on Florida's death row. In 1993 I saw Aileen’s photogr ...
Jasmine Hirst: BIO for Viscera Film Festival New York underground artist Jasmine Hirst's ten-year correspondence with serial killer Aileen Wuornos leads to an intimate and mesmerizing interview on Florida's death row. In 1993 I saw Aileen’s photogr ...
W4701
26.05.2011
Transferable skills / Compétances transfèrables - Erin Fortier and Scott Soullière
WWW
Transferable skills | Compétances transfèrables A site-specific installation in Ford City, Windsor-Detroit in the aftermath of the North American automotive industry crash. Both Soullière and Fortier were born and raised in Windsor.... ...
Transferable skills | Compétances transfèrables A site-specific installation in Ford City, Windsor-Detroit in the aftermath of the North American automotive industry crash. Both Soullière and Fortier were born and raised in Windsor.... ...
W5396
20.10.2012
Reason - Darío Corbeira
WWW
Representations of space must… have a substantial role and a specific influence in the production of space Henri Lefebvre Reason Reason is a 1994 unrealized project. Try to relate Art, Enlightenment, the development class city, urban geography, cl ...
Representations of space must… have a substantial role and a specific influence in the production of space Henri Lefebvre Reason Reason is a 1994 unrealized project. Try to relate Art, Enlightenment, the development class city, urban geography, cl ...
W3840
19.05.2011
One month of picnics. - Ding Ren
WWW
What better place for art and life to intersect, interweave, and co-mingle than in food? In the making, consumption, and presentation of food. Everyone needs to eat, and there are so many politics in this necessity. When art is food and food is art, t ...
What better place for art and life to intersect, interweave, and co-mingle than in food? In the making, consumption, and presentation of food. Everyone needs to eat, and there are so many politics in this necessity. When art is food and food is art, t ...
W4323
24.05.2011
MAD HATTER’S WORKSHOP  - Valery Koroshilov
WWW
MAD HATTER’S WORKSHOP The Concept Observing Lowry’s paintings I have noticed his people very often wear hats. I went on to address this theme. A hat, a helmet, a beret, a cap, a scarf, a hood, a crown. What are the messages they convey today i ...
MAD HATTER’S WORKSHOP The Concept Observing Lowry’s paintings I have noticed his people very often wear hats. I went on to address this theme. A hat, a helmet, a beret, a cap, a scarf, a hood, a crown. What are the messages they convey today i ...
U9958
01.01.1993
Project for the Initiative Mahnmal Homosexuellenverfolgung, Frankfurt  - Jeff Wall
Unbuilt Roads
My monument would be a free-standing structure, a life-size open air cafe-terrace that the public could enter. It is a 12-sided ellipse with two entrances, and would be a careful recreation of such a place in a style typical of the 1920s. It would be made ...
My monument would be a free-standing structure, a life-size open air cafe-terrace that the public could enter. It is a 12-sided ellipse with two entrances, and would be a careful recreation of such a place in a style typical of the 1920s. It would be made ...
W4966
22.08.2012
Bed-line - Efi Spyrou
WWW
Efi’s video “bed-line” invites us to mentally traverse a sterile, claustrophobic environment that includes more than one single spatial dimension in its space and more than one single temporal dimension in time. It emanates the energy of the absent, ...
Efi’s video “bed-line” invites us to mentally traverse a sterile, claustrophobic environment that includes more than one single spatial dimension in its space and more than one single temporal dimension in time. It emanates the energy of the absent, ...
W5250
10.10.2012
the candy cottage - Marisa Dipaola
WWW
As a child fascinated by storybook worlds, I found the Brothers’ Grimm “Hansel and Gretel” to be one of the most enchanting tales, especially the children’s discovery of the woodland candy cottage. Although built by a witch, as a sculptor, I have ...
As a child fascinated by storybook worlds, I found the Brothers’ Grimm “Hansel and Gretel” to be one of the most enchanting tales, especially the children’s discovery of the woodland candy cottage. Although built by a witch, as a sculptor, I have ...
W4382
25.05.2011
Vertebrae Train Project Tra Bouscaren - Tra Bouscaren
WWW
Vertebrae Train Project Tra Bouscaren The "VertebraeTrain Project" is a physical and symbolic exploration of extinction and a meditation on the transmutation of energy from one form into another. Bouscaren presents Berlin's U5 underground train a ...
Vertebrae Train Project Tra Bouscaren The "VertebraeTrain Project" is a physical and symbolic exploration of extinction and a meditation on the transmutation of energy from one form into another. Bouscaren presents Berlin's U5 underground train a ...
U9651
19.02.1997
Douglas Gordon - 5 year drive-by; proposal for a public artwork.
Unbuilt Roads
Originally presented at the Biennale de Lyon, 1995. The work is something of a companion piece to 24 Hour Psycho but it may, appear to be a little more extreme in some ways. I want to work with John Ford's film The Searchers which is, I think, the ar ...
Originally presented at the Biennale de Lyon, 1995. The work is something of a companion piece to 24 Hour Psycho but it may, appear to be a little more extreme in some ways. I want to work with John Ford's film The Searchers which is, I think, the ar ...
U9858
01.01.1995
"400" - Manfred Pernice
Unbuilt Roads
1995-96 Weile bestand ein Zusammenhang. eng. [unleserlich] ihn nicht gesucht. Möglichkeiten nahm er nicht wahr. Das Sockel (1) ergibt 11-fach vervielfältigt, Modell einer grosser Wohn- und Geschäftsanlag; [M?]aßtab 1:100, welches im Ausstellung ...
1995-96 Weile bestand ein Zusammenhang. eng. [unleserlich] ihn nicht gesucht. Möglichkeiten nahm er nicht wahr. Das Sockel (1) ergibt 11-fach vervielfältigt, Modell einer grosser Wohn- und Geschäftsanlag; [M?]aßtab 1:100, welches im Ausstellung ...
W3944
20.05.2011
The Triumph of Oil Painting (TOP) - Mo Abd-Ulla
WWW
99 Iraqi artists will be invited to make 99 paintings of oil/ petroleum on paper or canvas. TOP is structured to take place at 99-public spaces for 33 days. It is an independently curated multi-site-showcasing 99 Oil painting of 99 emerging and establi ...
99 Iraqi artists will be invited to make 99 paintings of oil/ petroleum on paper or canvas. TOP is structured to take place at 99-public spaces for 33 days. It is an independently curated multi-site-showcasing 99 Oil painting of 99 emerging and establi ...
W4281
24.05.2011
veronique bellavista
WWW
To whom it may concern: Sorry to send this in French, for lack of time since we are the 24th of May, and I had knowledge of your offer only today. I also hope this material will get some protection, since it is indeed a project that has not been ...
To whom it may concern: Sorry to send this in French, for lack of time since we are the 24th of May, and I had knowledge of your offer only today. I also hope this material will get some protection, since it is indeed a project that has not been ...
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 ...
W4538
25.05.2011
G.R. and M.F. for Le C.C.C.
WWW
Cher A.U.P., nous abordons ces côtes optiques par cette lettre intraduisible pour essayer de décrocher un peu d'argent, ou du moins poursuivre notre existence momentanée par votre lecture profane. Ayant montré un intérêt pour les projets irré ...
Cher A.U.P., nous abordons ces côtes optiques par cette lettre intraduisible pour essayer de décrocher un peu d'argent, ou du moins poursuivre notre existence momentanée par votre lecture profane. Ayant montré un intérêt pour les projets irré ...