Agency of Unrealised Projects
Continue
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.

Click to continue...


Grand Concours International D'Architecture  - Sol Lewitt

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

Billboard - Jimmie Durham

Relatum (Iron Plate and Stone) - Lee Ufan

Project for the Initiative Mahnmal Homosexuellenverfolgung, Frankfurt  - Jeff Wall

Projekt für die Landschaft des Mont-de-Sene (Burgund) im Rahmen eines öffentlichen Auftrags des französischen Kultusministeriums - Markus Raetz

No title, as the project only reached proposal stage - Rikrit Tiravanija

Passage - Richard Wentworth

Merci, Thank you, Danke: Les 2 sujets  - Thomas Hirschorn

The Clock - Ayse Erkmen

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
#
Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W4806
07.08.2012
We Don't Even Know How to End This Misery - Kristin Tårnes
WWW
The text is the voiceover of a film I made about an unrealized collaborative project while I was an exchange student in Berlin in 2007. The two images are stills from the same film. Even though the original project was unrealized, a work about the unreali ...
The text is the voiceover of a film I made about an unrealized collaborative project while I was an exchange student in Berlin in 2007. The two images are stills from the same film. Even though the original project was unrealized, a work about the unreali ...
, , ,
W5138
21.09.2012
Good Vibrations - Carlo Crovato
WWW
To illuminate the dark space beneath hoch-bahn bridges using Off the Grid techniques. Project title Good Vibrations. there will be moving illumination on underside of U-Bahn bridges as train passes overhead. 1 17 June 2011 Carlo Crovato Berli ...
To illuminate the dark space beneath hoch-bahn bridges using Off the Grid techniques. Project title Good Vibrations. there will be moving illumination on underside of U-Bahn bridges as train passes overhead. 1 17 June 2011 Carlo Crovato Berli ...
, , , , ,
U10002
01.01.1989
La Guerra De Los Simbolos - Victor Grippo
Unbuilt Roads
Una larga mesa, no necesariamente recta adaptada a las condiciones del espacio de exhibición, de 30 cm de ancho y longitud variable sobre la que estarà una larga "maqueta" construida con yeso blanco, de "paisa jes" urbanos conteniedo, edificios y simbol ...
Una larga mesa, no necesariamente recta adaptada a las condiciones del espacio de exhibición, de 30 cm de ancho y longitud variable sobre la que estarà una larga "maqueta" construida con yeso blanco, de "paisa jes" urbanos conteniedo, edificios y simbol ...
, , ,
W4200
24.05.2011
Money what else - Angelo Ricciardi
WWW
My projects are often unrealized projects. Many and different the reasons. Practical difficulties, like the lack of money, the lack of a physical suitable space, of real opportunities, are certainly present and important, but, at the end, surmountable. Mo ...
My projects are often unrealized projects. Many and different the reasons. Practical difficulties, like the lack of money, the lack of a physical suitable space, of real opportunities, are certainly present and important, but, at the end, surmountable. Mo ...
, ,
W10444
23.04.2014
Glass Tower 50 - Sean Scully
WWW
Glass Tower 50, 2014 is constructed of fifty glass panels. The slabs of glass are roughly cut on their edges allowing spaces between the layers enabling light and air to enter the work. This design gives it a sense of weightlessness, as a counter point ...
Glass Tower 50, 2014 is constructed of fifty glass panels. The slabs of glass are roughly cut on their edges allowing spaces between the layers enabling light and air to enter the work. This design gives it a sense of weightlessness, as a counter point ...
, , , , , , , ,
W4997
30.08.2012
Outback Pietà - Maarten Daudeij
WWW
Title: Outback Pietà Artist: Maarten Daudeij (The Netherlands, Australia) Year of origination of the idea: 2011 Concept: Taking the Pietà by Michelangelo out of the Saint Peter and placing it in the Australian Outback Theme: i.e. the duality between ...
Title: Outback Pietà Artist: Maarten Daudeij (The Netherlands, Australia) Year of origination of the idea: 2011 Concept: Taking the Pietà by Michelangelo out of the Saint Peter and placing it in the Australian Outback Theme: i.e. the duality between ...
, ,
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 ...
U9253
01.01.1969
A FAIRLY TALL TOWER, 48,000 Miles High -  - Siah Armajani
Unbuilt Roads
Location: Outer Space Status: Theoretical study Proposal to build a self-supporting tower suspended in space but anchored at one point to the earth (U. S. ). All synchronous satellites of the earth are located at the synchronous altitude. This al ...
Location: Outer Space Status: Theoretical study Proposal to build a self-supporting tower suspended in space but anchored at one point to the earth (U. S. ). All synchronous satellites of the earth are located at the synchronous altitude. This al ...
, , , , ,
W5901
18.10.2013
Fountain - Matthijs Muller
WWW
An anti-romantic fountain that, on one hand comments the manmade landscape of a park, while on the other hand romanticizing heavy machinery. 2011 ...
An anti-romantic fountain that, on one hand comments the manmade landscape of a park, while on the other hand romanticizing heavy machinery. 2011 ...
, ,
W4064
23.05.2011
BACK TO BASICS - Marianne Nassuno
WWW
The Art project being presented is meant to react against the former commented ‘technologysation’ of art trend. It wants to speak and reach the Man of the street. Art Project BACK TO BASICS Bring Art back to where once it belonged Duchamp’s ...
The Art project being presented is meant to react against the former commented ‘technologysation’ of art trend. It wants to speak and reach the Man of the street. Art Project BACK TO BASICS Bring Art back to where once it belonged Duchamp’s ...
, ,
W4968
22.08.2012
50 Unrealized Artwork Recipes - Greg Sholette
WWW
50 Unrealized Artwork Recipes See PDF ...
50 Unrealized Artwork Recipes See PDF ...
, , ,
W4792
13.06.2011
No Flag Long Enough - Santiago Pinyol
WWW
NO FLAG LONG ENOUGH Flags are not meant to touch the floor, everybody knows that. Flags are meant to be weaved, to be watched, to preside. The intervention proposed to bring the flags down from their vertical order into the horizontal one, connecti ...
NO FLAG LONG ENOUGH Flags are not meant to touch the floor, everybody knows that. Flags are meant to be weaved, to be watched, to preside. The intervention proposed to bring the flags down from their vertical order into the horizontal one, connecti ...
, , ,
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 ...
, ,
W3675
15.05.2011
OmniPhantasmic* - Neil Craver
WWW
OmniPhantasmic* *Omni-             1. A combining form denoting all, every, everywhere; as in omnipotent, all-powerful; omnipresent; omnivorous.  *Phantasmic-          1. Something apparently s ...
OmniPhantasmic* *Omni-             1. A combining form denoting all, every, everywhere; as in omnipotent, all-powerful; omnipresent; omnivorous.  *Phantasmic-          1. Something apparently s ...
, ,
W4865
09.08.2012
Advanced Public Tenement - Heman Chong & Anthony Marcellini
WWW
Advanced Public Tenement (APT) is project examining the future of low-income public housing programs developed by governments with rising population growth, used to house guest workers, displaced residents, or recent immigrants. This project will be guide ...
Advanced Public Tenement (APT) is project examining the future of low-income public housing programs developed by governments with rising population growth, used to house guest workers, displaced residents, or recent immigrants. This project will be guide ...
, ,
W10676
13.08.2014
Structure for Formal and Material Imagination - Scott Massey
WWW
Travel to another dimension has long held our fascination. From Alice’s tentative leap down the rabbit hole, Wade Davis’ experients with the worlds psychotropic flora, or teleporting from the bridge of the Starship Enterprise, exploration of alternat ...
Travel to another dimension has long held our fascination. From Alice’s tentative leap down the rabbit hole, Wade Davis’ experients with the worlds psychotropic flora, or teleporting from the bridge of the Starship Enterprise, exploration of alternat ...
, ,
U9936
23.01.1997
Messages to the Public - Nancy Spero
Unbuilt Roads
Dear Hans-Ulrich, Thank you for inviting me to participate in "Unbuilt Worlds - unrealized artist-projects". Sounds terrific. In 1986 I was invited to participate in a program called "Messages to the Public". The invited artists would be given a 30- ...
Dear Hans-Ulrich, Thank you for inviting me to participate in "Unbuilt Worlds - unrealized artist-projects". Sounds terrific. In 1986 I was invited to participate in a program called "Messages to the Public". The invited artists would be given a 30- ...
, , , ,
W4954
20.08.2012
Urban scape sketch - Marta Fuster Barutell
WWW
Urban scape sketch by Marta Fuster Barutell Site-specific installation composed of a variable amount of boxes. Each box is fabricated with welded 100mm square tube steel to the scale of one cubic metre per box. Opposing faces of the cube should ha ...
Urban scape sketch by Marta Fuster Barutell Site-specific installation composed of a variable amount of boxes. Each box is fabricated with welded 100mm square tube steel to the scale of one cubic metre per box. Opposing faces of the cube should ha ...
, , ,
W5062
04.09.2012
(CAPTURING) FOG IN A BOX (2012) - Caroline Parks
WWW
(CAPTURING) FOG IN A BOX (2012) This unrealized project is to capture fog in a box (a clear Lucite type of box) so that the fog can be seen inside the box. The box can then be carried around (further into the fog) on a walk down the beach shoreline. T ...
(CAPTURING) FOG IN A BOX (2012) This unrealized project is to capture fog in a box (a clear Lucite type of box) so that the fog can be seen inside the box. The box can then be carried around (further into the fog) on a walk down the beach shoreline. T ...
, ,
W5437
20.10.2012
EHO NARCIS - Brina Torkar
WWW
EHO NARCIS Interactive formation of 4 mandals on plexiglas: Short justification and concept: Authoress representation interactive formation of 4 representational mandals, witch in the interaction with the spectator react in 4 different ways.The m ...
EHO NARCIS Interactive formation of 4 mandals on plexiglas: Short justification and concept: Authoress representation interactive formation of 4 representational mandals, witch in the interaction with the spectator react in 4 different ways.The m ...
, , , , ,
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 ...
, ,
W3608
13.05.2011
Jenny E. Balisle
WWW
My art begins with a mark or line inspired by patterns found in natural or manmade environments. My pen and ink drawings explore repetitions of line and organic forms, investigating the simplicity and complexity of gestures, marks, lines, and textures. ...
My art begins with a mark or line inspired by patterns found in natural or manmade environments. My pen and ink drawings explore repetitions of line and organic forms, investigating the simplicity and complexity of gestures, marks, lines, and textures. ...
, ,
W10332
17.04.2014
FOR ALL MANKIND - Lisa Rovner
WWW
"For all mankind" is a series of large scale poems that can be seen from above, anywhere, anytime, through programs such as Google Earth. The first in the series screams: BECAUSE I AM HUMAN AND I NEED TO BE LOVED. The poem answers an unknown question. ...
"For all mankind" is a series of large scale poems that can be seen from above, anywhere, anytime, through programs such as Google Earth. The first in the series screams: BECAUSE I AM HUMAN AND I NEED TO BE LOVED. The poem answers an unknown question. ...
, , , , , , , ,
W4756
27.05.2011
“Collectors” Series - Soo Kim
WWW
Unfinished and ongoing project called "Collectors" -all kinds of things and creatures are collected, and create a melody and tune. Initial idea for “Collectors” series started after thinking how we miss unnoticeable things around surroundings, and th ...
Unfinished and ongoing project called "Collectors" -all kinds of things and creatures are collected, and create a melody and tune. Initial idea for “Collectors” series started after thinking how we miss unnoticeable things around surroundings, and th ...
, , ,
W3980
21.05.2011
Untitled - Sky Fairchild-Waller
WWW
'Untitled' is a photo and text-based work that explores the poetics of a young mother raising a young girl. Meredith admired the speckles of flour that had landed on her apron. The print was floral; violet and pink flower buds, small and slightly fade ...
'Untitled' is a photo and text-based work that explores the poetics of a young mother raising a young girl. Meredith admired the speckles of flour that had landed on her apron. The print was floral; violet and pink flower buds, small and slightly fade ...
, , ,
W3995
21.05.2011
Action Pants Proposal for Off the Strip - Cindy Rehm
WWW
Rejected proposal "Action Pants" for Off the Strip at the Contemporary Art Center, Las Vegas. Action Pants Proposal for Off the Strip Contemporary Art Center, Las Vegas February 2009 In 1968, artist Valie Export performed her work Action Pants ...
Rejected proposal "Action Pants" for Off the Strip at the Contemporary Art Center, Las Vegas. Action Pants Proposal for Off the Strip Contemporary Art Center, Las Vegas February 2009 In 1968, artist Valie Export performed her work Action Pants ...
, ,