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.

Messages to the Public - Nancy Spero

Entwurf für einen erneuerten Malkasten 1992 - 1994 - Ulrike Holthöfer

Tower Cranes, Paris  - Tadashi Kawamata

WATERWORKS - Mona Hatoum

Ruderaltisch, 1994/95 Kunst am Bau - Projekt - Lois Weinberger

NON REALIZED PROJECTS - Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Billboard - Jimmie Durham

Douglas Gordon - 5 year drive-by; proposal for a public artwork.

Arrangement Stroom HCBK Den Haag - Ange Leccia

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

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W3842
19.05.2011
BLIND SPOT - KimSu Theiler
WWW
dimensions variable Can we turn the horror of being dematerialized whether in the eyes of a beloved or in a community into the super-hero power of invisibility and back again. 8 cameras in a circle point out over the room. 8 grid camera view re ...
dimensions variable Can we turn the horror of being dematerialized whether in the eyes of a beloved or in a community into the super-hero power of invisibility and back again. 8 cameras in a circle point out over the room. 8 grid camera view re ...
W4800
20.01.2012
Turf - IDADA Art Pavilion - Jeremy Tubbs
WWW
Turf - IDADA Art Pavilion Super Bowl weekend will coincide with the IDADA First Friday Art Tour on Friday February 3rd. The Indianapolis Downtown Artists and Dealers Association (IDADA) are hosting a unique, visual arts event and pavilion in downtown Ind ...
Turf - IDADA Art Pavilion Super Bowl weekend will coincide with the IDADA First Friday Art Tour on Friday February 3rd. The Indianapolis Downtown Artists and Dealers Association (IDADA) are hosting a unique, visual arts event and pavilion in downtown Ind ...
U9497
07.04.1997
Jake and Dinos Chapman's five proposals for an empty plinth situated on central londons trafalgar square - Jake and Dinos Chapman
Unbuilt Roads
commissioned by liberal daily broadsheet newspaper ironically suggesting the most unsuitable artists possible to produce the most unsuitable public sculpture never to be realized: ha ha ha, very funny we suggest one of the following: project 'Hawki ...
commissioned by liberal daily broadsheet newspaper ironically suggesting the most unsuitable artists possible to produce the most unsuitable public sculpture never to be realized: ha ha ha, very funny we suggest one of the following: project 'Hawki ...
W4377
25.05.2011
Judith Barry
WWW
Display: Museum of Signs, 1980 Installation proposal. Shopping Mall, Palo Alto, California 1980Mnemonic devices were used to transform a working-class shopping mall into a memory palace. The use of contemporary display techniques produces numerous desi ...
Display: Museum of Signs, 1980 Installation proposal. Shopping Mall, Palo Alto, California 1980Mnemonic devices were used to transform a working-class shopping mall into a memory palace. The use of contemporary display techniques produces numerous desi ...
W4629
25.05.2011
Light Emitting Clematis - Ann LePore
WWW
Light Emitting Clematis for the NJ Bell Telephone building, now Verizon, 540 Broad St. Timed LED lights will "crawl' up the building, providing a beautiful, abstract flourish that hints at visual communication being "Beamed Up" from the Telecom building, ...
Light Emitting Clematis for the NJ Bell Telephone building, now Verizon, 540 Broad St. Timed LED lights will "crawl' up the building, providing a beautiful, abstract flourish that hints at visual communication being "Beamed Up" from the Telecom building, ...
W3843
19.05.2011
Pamela Harris
WWW
"When I was at art school, everyone else would make art and find the best parts and then try to cover up everything else so that was all you saw. I was fascinated by the part that didn't appear to be working and I'd keep working on that part until it took ...
"When I was at art school, everyone else would make art and find the best parts and then try to cover up everything else so that was all you saw. I was fascinated by the part that didn't appear to be working and I'd keep working on that part until it took ...
W5046
03.09.2012
Hegel's Lecture - Robert Linsley
WWW
Unrealized film proposal of 1997 entitled "Hegel's Lecture" OUTLINE FOR A FILM: HEGEL’S LECTURE Storyline: The door of the lecture hall opens and the camera enters over the shoulder of a student. We see the face of the doorman standing inside brief ...
Unrealized film proposal of 1997 entitled "Hegel's Lecture" OUTLINE FOR A FILM: HEGEL’S LECTURE Storyline: The door of the lecture hall opens and the camera enters over the shoulder of a student. We see the face of the doorman standing inside brief ...
W5260
12.10.2012
snowball - Cristina d'eça Leal
WWW
Synopsis When a snowball slides down a hill, it gathers more snow, becoming bigger and bigger until it can, ultimately, start an avalanche. This analogy is used to explain the success of a certain action. In order to achieve the best result it is fundam ...
Synopsis When a snowball slides down a hill, it gathers more snow, becoming bigger and bigger until it can, ultimately, start an avalanche. This analogy is used to explain the success of a certain action. In order to achieve the best result it is fundam ...
W3628
14.05.2011
Liquid and Interactive Architecture - Duda Valle
WWW
Liquid and Interactive Architecture , 15 seconds of fame - the project consists of LED lights placed in a building that will take any form by an interactive interface that will appear on the pedestrian mobile phone by calling a certain number. ...
Liquid and Interactive Architecture , 15 seconds of fame - the project consists of LED lights placed in a building that will take any form by an interactive interface that will appear on the pedestrian mobile phone by calling a certain number. ...
W3595
13.05.2011
A Year of Tomorrows - Heman Chong
WWW
A Year of Tomorrows is a large scale public art work that will occur in New York over the time span of a year. 365 science fiction films will be selected and screened over 365 days over 365 locations in the city. In a nutshell, the project is formulated a ...
A Year of Tomorrows is a large scale public art work that will occur in New York over the time span of a year. 365 science fiction films will be selected and screened over 365 days over 365 locations in the city. In a nutshell, the project is formulated a ...
W4332
24.05.2011
The Golden Pavilion - Xawery Wolski
WWW
The Golden Pavilion. 1993 What is essentially remote is the unapproachable. In fact, the main quality of an image used for worship is its inapproachability. By its very nature, it is always remote, as close as it may be. One can approach its material rea ...
The Golden Pavilion. 1993 What is essentially remote is the unapproachable. In fact, the main quality of an image used for worship is its inapproachability. By its very nature, it is always remote, as close as it may be. One can approach its material rea ...
W4752
27.05.2011
Abstract Shapes & Forms - G.F. Zaimis
WWW
Statement Blurring boundaries of art and architecture, G.F. Zaimis work explores the nature of shape and form from the most minimal to monumental, abstract to literal, painting to photography. The essence of her work addresses architecture’s shap ...
Statement Blurring boundaries of art and architecture, G.F. Zaimis work explores the nature of shape and form from the most minimal to monumental, abstract to literal, painting to photography. The essence of her work addresses architecture’s shap ...
W4338
24.05.2011
Untitled (Paper Cuts), - Raluca Popa
WWW
RALUCA POPA Untitled (Paper Cuts), paper, glue, dimensions variable (2011) No one to talk. This work is in progress. This work addresses the subject of failure – the failure of the object and the failure of the event. This work might create ...
RALUCA POPA Untitled (Paper Cuts), paper, glue, dimensions variable (2011) No one to talk. This work is in progress. This work addresses the subject of failure – the failure of the object and the failure of the event. This work might create ...
W3502
11.05.2011
Reproductions - David Groot
WWW
Reproductions, apart from being a substitute for a genuine experience, may protect the vulnerable original for all too impudent eyes and inappropriate curiosity. In "Re-production" this idea is taken literally; the slide projector projects a photographic ...
Reproductions, apart from being a substitute for a genuine experience, may protect the vulnerable original for all too impudent eyes and inappropriate curiosity. In "Re-production" this idea is taken literally; the slide projector projects a photographic ...
W4615
25.05.2011
Tia-Simone Gardner
WWW
The project that I am working on is a more involved video project, developed out of an installation of stills, that will re-narrate, and re-edit, Ousmane Sembene's 1966 film 'La noire de.' I began the ground work for this project over a year ago while thi ...
The project that I am working on is a more involved video project, developed out of an installation of stills, that will re-narrate, and re-edit, Ousmane Sembene's 1966 film 'La noire de.' I began the ground work for this project over a year ago while thi ...
W4829
07.08.2012
Le Grand Mort - Edgar Orlaineta
WWW
Edgar Orlianeta México City 1972 LE GRAND MORT (La Gran Muerte). 2002. Digital photo-montage for project to be located in the desert near Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua (México) and El Paso, Texas (US). The project was meant to be made with a steel pol ...
Edgar Orlianeta México City 1972 LE GRAND MORT (La Gran Muerte). 2002. Digital photo-montage for project to be located in the desert near Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua (México) and El Paso, Texas (US). The project was meant to be made with a steel pol ...
W4138
23.05.2011
No manʼs land - Constanza Alarcón Tennen
WWW
No manʼs land This installation was projected for Sala SAM, a gallery in Santiago de Chile, to be exhibited in August 2010. Because of the abrupt closure of the gallery, the Project was stoped a month before opening. No manʼs land was based in the obs ...
No manʼs land This installation was projected for Sala SAM, a gallery in Santiago de Chile, to be exhibited in August 2010. Because of the abrupt closure of the gallery, the Project was stoped a month before opening. No manʼs land was based in the obs ...
W5091
10.09.2012
Hortus d'Epe - Harald Schole
WWW
Hortus d'Epe An innovative artproject related to new infrastructure in Epe. Commission CBK Arnhem and the city Epe 2005, proposal exhibition in CBK Arnhem titled 'the idea generator' Some old mansions nearby have beautiful French gardens. A ne ...
Hortus d'Epe An innovative artproject related to new infrastructure in Epe. Commission CBK Arnhem and the city Epe 2005, proposal exhibition in CBK Arnhem titled 'the idea generator' Some old mansions nearby have beautiful French gardens. A ne ...
W3509
11.05.2011
I gave you this picture because I was afraid you might forget me - Yvonne O'Reilly
WWW
CORNERHOUSE MICRO COMMISSIONS - (a site specific proposal) 'I gave you this picture because I was afraid you might forget me.' About your idea: What is your idea? The location – the CORNERHOUSE would provide me with the opportunity to create a ...
CORNERHOUSE MICRO COMMISSIONS - (a site specific proposal) 'I gave you this picture because I was afraid you might forget me.' About your idea: What is your idea? The location – the CORNERHOUSE would provide me with the opportunity to create a ...
W3586
13.05.2011
A Starry Minute, 2007 - Katja Aglert
WWW
A Starry Minute proposes to collaborate with building owners in Times Square to turn off all of the commercial signage in the area (41 St. - 50 St. between Broadway and 7th Ave) simultaneously for one minute. A Starry Minute’s specific duration of 60 se ...
A Starry Minute proposes to collaborate with building owners in Times Square to turn off all of the commercial signage in the area (41 St. - 50 St. between Broadway and 7th Ave) simultaneously for one minute. A Starry Minute’s specific duration of 60 se ...
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 ...
W5263
13.10.2012
Brick Rushnik - Maria Gonchar
WWW
Rushnik or Rushnyk- Ukrainian embroidered decorative towel. In ancient times, the towel, embroidered with the relevant patterns, symbols, has been an inherent part of many ceremonies. For centuries it has the importance of figurative-symbolic significanc ...
Rushnik or Rushnyk- Ukrainian embroidered decorative towel. In ancient times, the towel, embroidered with the relevant patterns, symbols, has been an inherent part of many ceremonies. For centuries it has the importance of figurative-symbolic significanc ...
W4513
25.05.2011
Viktor Timofeev
WWW
In this painting I have "created" a triumphal arch constructed out of 13 worker-housing units, stacked precariously and defying the laws of physics. While this village/monument is rendered to appear structurally sound, its context is most certainly utopia ...
In this painting I have "created" a triumphal arch constructed out of 13 worker-housing units, stacked precariously and defying the laws of physics. While this village/monument is rendered to appear structurally sound, its context is most certainly utopia ...
W5261
12.10.2012
Memory Confetti - Stephen j Shanabrook / Veronika Georgieva
WWW
STEPHEN j SHANABROOK / VERONIKA GEORGIEVA MEMORY CONFETTI The project MEMORY CONFETTI consists of two parts: through various social network sites we will introduce the project and request the public’s time based participation in sending us imag ...
STEPHEN j SHANABROOK / VERONIKA GEORGIEVA MEMORY CONFETTI The project MEMORY CONFETTI consists of two parts: through various social network sites we will introduce the project and request the public’s time based participation in sending us imag ...
W4847
08.08.2012
In Theater - James Brendan Williams
WWW
In Theater I’d like to propose a sculptural installation of silent television monitors each displaying a fixed view of a performance stage from around the world. Forty Sony Cubes or Hantarex EQs are to be stacked in the form of a four-sided pyrami ...
In Theater I’d like to propose a sculptural installation of silent television monitors each displaying a fixed view of a performance stage from around the world. Forty Sony Cubes or Hantarex EQs are to be stacked in the form of a four-sided pyrami ...
W4764
28.05.2011
Juliana BIttencourt
WWW
I would like to ask if I still can submit my project. It was part of an exhibition en Brazil of unrealized projects. http://projetosnatemporada.org/en/ The curators told me about this site but I´m afraid is to late. Thanks a lot, Juliana Bittencourt ...
I would like to ask if I still can submit my project. It was part of an exhibition en Brazil of unrealized projects. http://projetosnatemporada.org/en/ The curators told me about this site but I´m afraid is to late. Thanks a lot, Juliana Bittencourt ...