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 insurer - Fabrice Hybert

PROJEKT - Ulrich Rückreim

Prima del 73 - Fabio Mauri

The Rosetta Garden - Gary Simmons

MAK - Wien  - Rosemarie Trockel

Financial Times Millennium Bridge Competition - Richard Serra and Frank Gehry

The World Record - General Idea

A House of Dust - Alison Knowles

Passage - Richard Wentworth

Art and Ourselves: A Proposal for the city of Nordhorn - Allen Rupperssberg

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W5466
21.10.2012
THE STREET IS ALSO A HOUSE ... - António Rosa da Silva
WWW
explores the urban environment interactions in a series of sets of furniture perfectly stereotyped in any existing interior space, public or private. The object is materialized in a plane to be held in red Valchromat (MDF), this plane is placed at a ve ...
explores the urban environment interactions in a series of sets of furniture perfectly stereotyped in any existing interior space, public or private. The object is materialized in a plane to be held in red Valchromat (MDF), this plane is placed at a ve ...
W4475
25.05.2011
Veronica Wilton
WWW
W5448
20.10.2012
BUILDING DRAWING I: “THE LITTLE EASE” - Ann Daly
WWW
Ann Daly adaly@aya.yale.edu BUILDING DRAWING I: “THE LITTLE EASE” Room within a room within a room. Smallest internal room is a plywood box, upright, approx. 6.5 ft tall and 3ft. wide. This internal box is drilled with 'viewholes' at various po ...
Ann Daly adaly@aya.yale.edu BUILDING DRAWING I: “THE LITTLE EASE” Room within a room within a room. Smallest internal room is a plywood box, upright, approx. 6.5 ft tall and 3ft. wide. This internal box is drilled with 'viewholes' at various po ...
W4201
24.05.2011
Roger Hiorns
WWW
Section one, presents a communication to the people of Tuckerton NJ and in turn the people of NY. Section Two, I was asked to propose for the latest round of Fourth plinth installations. ...
Section one, presents a communication to the people of Tuckerton NJ and in turn the people of NY. Section Two, I was asked to propose for the latest round of Fourth plinth installations. ...
W3701
17.05.2011
Taxonomy of Aborted Ideas - Mariángeles Soto-Díaz
WWW
"Taxonomy of Aborted Ideas" is both a standalone work and a classification system inspired by Jorge Luis Borges' Chinese Encyclopedia and Michel Foucault's The Order of Things. Aborted ideas are part of the topography of unrealized projects, but unlike un ...
"Taxonomy of Aborted Ideas" is both a standalone work and a classification system inspired by Jorge Luis Borges' Chinese Encyclopedia and Michel Foucault's The Order of Things. Aborted ideas are part of the topography of unrealized projects, but unlike un ...
W3617
14.05.2011
WHAT A BEAUTY: A WORKING POEM - jillian mayer
WWW
Aprox run time: 8 min. Synopsis: Performance based around a volcano constructed from paper mache. Set to a pre-recorded audio poem with interactive components. Materials: Paper Mache Volcano, speakers,pre-precorded poem, amplifying device, pre-pr ...
Aprox run time: 8 min. Synopsis: Performance based around a volcano constructed from paper mache. Set to a pre-recorded audio poem with interactive components. Materials: Paper Mache Volcano, speakers,pre-precorded poem, amplifying device, pre-pr ...
W4886
10.08.2012
Laissez-Passer - Ilana Salama Ortar
WWW
Laissez-Passer Introduction I was born in Alexandria. In the early 1950s my family was forced to leave Egypt with a one-way pass (laissez-passer). On the way to Israel we passed through Marseilles. Due to the circumstances, since post-war Marseilles ...
Laissez-Passer Introduction I was born in Alexandria. In the early 1950s my family was forced to leave Egypt with a one-way pass (laissez-passer). On the way to Israel we passed through Marseilles. Due to the circumstances, since post-war Marseilles ...
W3674
15.05.2011
The Warhol Machine - Johanna Thompson
WWW
The Warhol Machine is a mechanism that will bring 15 minutes of fame to everyone. It is an installation in Times Square, New York City, consisting of a video camera in a booth, a visitor inside the booth and in front of the camera and the already installe ...
The Warhol Machine is a mechanism that will bring 15 minutes of fame to everyone. It is an installation in Times Square, New York City, consisting of a video camera in a booth, a visitor inside the booth and in front of the camera and the already installe ...
W5196
02.10.2012
The Installation series of Untitled (Wishes, Lies and Dreams >> Wonderfully Wonderful ...) - Sarawut Chutiwongpeti
WWW
“The Installation series of Untitled (Wishes, Lies and Dreams >> Wonderfully Wonderful ...)” Basic Concept: My goal is to investigate the expressive possibilities of conceptual visual language and to develop Collaborative New Art as part of bot ...
“The Installation series of Untitled (Wishes, Lies and Dreams >> Wonderfully Wonderful ...)” Basic Concept: My goal is to investigate the expressive possibilities of conceptual visual language and to develop Collaborative New Art as part of bot ...
W5074
05.09.2012
fading memory  - Raymonde Van Santen
WWW
Raymonde van Santen rvansanten@verizon.net Unrealized Projects fading memory Part A and B fit in my ongoing exploration of the cycles of decay and renewal. They will visualize how the passage of time affects memory (Part A), and how memories n ...
Raymonde van Santen rvansanten@verizon.net Unrealized Projects fading memory Part A and B fit in my ongoing exploration of the cycles of decay and renewal. They will visualize how the passage of time affects memory (Part A), and how memories n ...
U9285
01.01.1969
Monumento all'agricoltura 1969-70 - Alighiero Boetti
Unbuilt Roads
In Turin von Alighiero Boetti für Fiat entworfenes Projekt, das im Rahmen der Landwirtschaftsausstellung 1970 in Verona prasentiert werden sollte, auf der die Firma vertreten war. Es sah eine etwa zwanzig Meter hohe Saüle vor, die die verschiedenen Schi ...
In Turin von Alighiero Boetti für Fiat entworfenes Projekt, das im Rahmen der Landwirtschaftsausstellung 1970 in Verona prasentiert werden sollte, auf der die Firma vertreten war. Es sah eine etwa zwanzig Meter hohe Saüle vor, die die verschiedenen Schi ...
W4270
24.05.2011
BLAKKK MAGAZINE by PETERSON RUIZ
WWW
BLACK STICKER TAPES ON FASHION CATALOGUE PAGES ...
BLACK STICKER TAPES ON FASHION CATALOGUE PAGES ...
W4399
25.05.2011
Go Find me a Boy - Mansha Chhatwal
WWW
I, Mansha Chhatwal, am an artist with a background in advertising. After a 15 year stint in advertising, during which I worked in several agencies including Rediffusion Y&R, Bates India, Everest brand communications and Mudra DDB , I quit finally about a ...
I, Mansha Chhatwal, am an artist with a background in advertising. After a 15 year stint in advertising, during which I worked in several agencies including Rediffusion Y&R, Bates India, Everest brand communications and Mudra DDB , I quit finally about a ...
W4175
24.05.2011
BIYING ZHANG
WWW
As a young Chinese artist living in the United States, Zhang feels a strong sense of being a foreign person in this country especially after her marriage to a US citizen. In her artwork, Zhang explores the difference and displacement that she feels. ...
As a young Chinese artist living in the United States, Zhang feels a strong sense of being a foreign person in this country especially after her marriage to a US citizen. In her artwork, Zhang explores the difference and displacement that she feels. ...
W4065
23.05.2011
THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND RADIATION (CMB) FROM THE BIG BANG - Rick Doble
WWW
A PROPOSAL BY RICK DOBLE FOR AN UNREALIZED ART PROJECT BASED ON PROCESSING THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND RADIATION (CMB) FROM THE BIG BANG In 2003 I proposed an art project (see my submitted copy of my proposal to the Exploratorium in San Francisco ...
A PROPOSAL BY RICK DOBLE FOR AN UNREALIZED ART PROJECT BASED ON PROCESSING THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND RADIATION (CMB) FROM THE BIG BANG In 2003 I proposed an art project (see my submitted copy of my proposal to the Exploratorium in San Francisco ...
U9833
01.01.1977
Square Depression - Bruce Nauman
Unbuilt Roads
Geplanter Standort: Naturwissenschaftliches Zentrum der Westfälischen Wilhelmsuniversität, Münster Material: Betonguß Maße: Tiefe 2,30 m, Breite 25,0 m, Länge 25,0 m Note The piece is a rhomboid square depres­sion with the p ...
Geplanter Standort: Naturwissenschaftliches Zentrum der Westfälischen Wilhelmsuniversität, Münster Material: Betonguß Maße: Tiefe 2,30 m, Breite 25,0 m, Länge 25,0 m Note The piece is a rhomboid square depres­sion with the p ...
W4063
23.05.2011
Brit Bunkley
WWW
A signpost. An elevated park. ...
A signpost. An elevated park. ...
W4727
26.05.2011
Household aluminium foil sculptures - Michel NORTH
WWW
Household aluminium foil sculptures – development of a “fa presto” technique in sculpture Those are two examples of statues (image 1: 1978; image 2: 1985), unrealised in that sense that the technique used and developed by me about 50 years ago ...
Household aluminium foil sculptures – development of a “fa presto” technique in sculpture Those are two examples of statues (image 1: 1978; image 2: 1985), unrealised in that sense that the technique used and developed by me about 50 years ago ...
W4163
23.05.2011
iaround - Anna Martinou
WWW
iaround provides an interactive platform for artists, groups and collectives who commission work within the urban landscape. The platform serves both as documentation and a social media tool as it integrates the process iaround: http://www.iaround.co ...
iaround provides an interactive platform for artists, groups and collectives who commission work within the urban landscape. The platform serves both as documentation and a social media tool as it integrates the process iaround: http://www.iaround.co ...
W5424
20.10.2012
THE DIFFICULT INTERPRETATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC REALITY - Ulrich Bocker
WWW
THE DIFFICULT INTERPRETATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC REALITY For the innocent photography is the most obvious form of visual communication in the world. The pictured situation seems clear at first sight until we read the title or the legend underneath. An opt ...
THE DIFFICULT INTERPRETATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC REALITY For the innocent photography is the most obvious form of visual communication in the world. The pictured situation seems clear at first sight until we read the title or the legend underneath. An opt ...
W4480
25.05.2011
Laura Stein
WWW
I was working with a pyrotechnics specialist to develop shaped fire sculptures. We were working on building gas flame fueled armatures to define the form. AS the costs grew the project was put on the back burner after 6+ months of work and research! ...
I was working with a pyrotechnics specialist to develop shaped fire sculptures. We were working on building gas flame fueled armatures to define the form. AS the costs grew the project was put on the back burner after 6+ months of work and research! ...
W4121
23.05.2011
Connectivity II - Sara Schnadt
WWW
Sara Schnadt Connectivity II - Project Concept In this revolutionary moment, online tools are as dynamic as their implications for fundamentally changing information reception. As a technologist who also develops online artist resources, I am part of a na ...
Sara Schnadt Connectivity II - Project Concept In this revolutionary moment, online tools are as dynamic as their implications for fundamentally changing information reception. As a technologist who also develops online artist resources, I am part of a na ...
W4510
25.05.2011
THE SHIP OF NO PLACE - Yu-Chen Wang
WWW
THE SHIP OF NO PLACE Inspired by Thomas More’s 1615 fiction, Utopia – travelers’ voyages of discovering the new utopian island. The Ship of No Place is an artist traveling residency project taking place on a crew ship. The ship will set up its jo ...
THE SHIP OF NO PLACE Inspired by Thomas More’s 1615 fiction, Utopia – travelers’ voyages of discovering the new utopian island. The Ship of No Place is an artist traveling residency project taking place on a crew ship. The ship will set up its jo ...
W3765
18.05.2011
Nonlinear - Thomas Wulffen
WWW
'Nonlinear' was an exhibition project, that incorporates cultural expression without any borders, besides the main topic of 'Nonlinear': art as an epistemology besides the science. see also:http://www.catrack.de/nonlinear/ ...
'Nonlinear' was an exhibition project, that incorporates cultural expression without any borders, besides the main topic of 'Nonlinear': art as an epistemology besides the science. see also:http://www.catrack.de/nonlinear/ ...
W4381
25.05.2011
Listening Sign - Jamie Pawlus
WWW
Project: Listening Sign The empty sign structure is rapidly populating the urban and rural horizon across the entire United States. I perceive it as a symbol of an economy, culture, and the human spirit in a state of decline. This structure is more tha ...
Project: Listening Sign The empty sign structure is rapidly populating the urban and rural horizon across the entire United States. I perceive it as a symbol of an economy, culture, and the human spirit in a state of decline. This structure is more tha ...
W5157
24.09.2012
Proposals - Robert Strati
WWW
Robert Strati http://www.stratilab.com "Proposals" In the process of putting together a series of video proposals for installation projects at various museums I began to question the process… "Isn't this the exhibition itself... does it need to a ...
Robert Strati http://www.stratilab.com "Proposals" In the process of putting together a series of video proposals for installation projects at various museums I began to question the process… "Isn't this the exhibition itself... does it need to a ...