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.

Projet pour la Place Saint Léger à Chambery  - Erik Dietman

Temple of the western buddha (1971 Kathmedu) - Herman de Vries

A House of Dust - Alison Knowles

The Clock - Ayse Erkmen

Monument with Rust - Gustav Metzger

Messages to the Public - Nancy Spero

Unbetitelt, Gänse-Projekt + Noch unbetitelt , " Durch den Mund sehen " + Kartoffeln  - Carsten Holler

Arrangement Stroom HCBK Den Haag - Ange Leccia

Projets non réalisés: - Daniel Buren

PROJECT FOR A COMMUNITY CENTER, AVENUE DES NARCISSES, CHENOVE - Vito Acconci

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W4418
25.05.2011
#GUIDE NO.1  - Oana Stoica & Vilhelem Jozsef Hunor
WWW
SUBJECT: What would have happened if, at 20 years old, you had gone to college for art instead of architecture? What would have happened if you had been a visual artist who expressed himself through two-dimensional video, objects, etc...? What if we offer ...
SUBJECT: What would have happened if, at 20 years old, you had gone to college for art instead of architecture? What would have happened if you had been a visual artist who expressed himself through two-dimensional video, objects, etc...? What if we offer ...
W3587
13.05.2011
Christopher Otto
WWW
In 2001, when I was 23, I attempted to make a computer art program which would dial each entry in Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus as a phone number and speak the line to whomever picked up. I was accepted to present it at a few events, but w ...
In 2001, when I was 23, I attempted to make a computer art program which would dial each entry in Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus as a phone number and speak the line to whomever picked up. I was accepted to present it at a few events, but w ...
W4508
25.05.2011
American Flag Kits - Paula Stuttman
WWW
American Flag Kits During the summer of 1998 I completed 20 American Flag Kits. What fascinates me about flags (and this goes for any country’s flag) is the object itself is nothing but colored cloth arranged into a snappy design. It is human investm ...
American Flag Kits During the summer of 1998 I completed 20 American Flag Kits. What fascinates me about flags (and this goes for any country’s flag) is the object itself is nothing but colored cloth arranged into a snappy design. It is human investm ...
W3803
18.05.2011
An experience being an experience like an experience you just had - Joanne Tatham & Tom O'Sullivan
WWW
"An experience being an experience like an experience you just had" was an unsuccessful proposal for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. ...
"An experience being an experience like an experience you just had" was an unsuccessful proposal for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. ...
W5083
08.09.2012
Safety for 24 hours - tat ort (Alexandra Berlinger, Wolfgang Fiel)
WWW
Commissioned by curator Thomas Kaestle on behalf of the city of Hannover, the project - among others – was expected to invigorate the discourse on public art in general as well as to provide an example for the future development of public art initiative ...
Commissioned by curator Thomas Kaestle on behalf of the city of Hannover, the project - among others – was expected to invigorate the discourse on public art in general as well as to provide an example for the future development of public art initiative ...
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 ...
W4614
25.05.2011
Art Forum - Cornford & Cross
WWW
Review of Unrealized projects by Cornford & Cross Rachel Withers Art Forum Jan 2003 ...
Review of Unrealized projects by Cornford & Cross Rachel Withers Art Forum Jan 2003 ...
W5356
19.10.2012
german ramirez
WWW
At the moment I am working on a project which relates Nature and Religion. Are they complementary? Do they share common roots? Do they justify one another. Is one consequence of the other? I use photography to manipulate images confronting human beliefs. ...
At the moment I am working on a project which relates Nature and Religion. Are they complementary? Do they share common roots? Do they justify one another. Is one consequence of the other? I use photography to manipulate images confronting human beliefs. ...
W4983
27.08.2012
Tappeto Rosso - Judit Pusztaszeri
WWW
“Tappeto Rosso” Tappeto Rosso is a site-specific installation, which served as the preliminary stage of an architectural design. The installation was the result of an in-depth research process addressing various issues surrounding the site known ...
“Tappeto Rosso” Tappeto Rosso is a site-specific installation, which served as the preliminary stage of an architectural design. The installation was the result of an in-depth research process addressing various issues surrounding the site known ...
W4755
27.05.2011
Dreamy - Oona Stern
WWW
dreamy A wall is constructed brick-and-mortar style, but instead of clay or stone, the bricks are made from shrubbery. It is both a wall and a topiary, bringing together architecture and the garden. As typical of hedgerows, it serves to define space, ...
dreamy A wall is constructed brick-and-mortar style, but instead of clay or stone, the bricks are made from shrubbery. It is both a wall and a topiary, bringing together architecture and the garden. As typical of hedgerows, it serves to define space, ...
W4722
26.05.2011
Broc Blegen
WWW
This is a proposal for a people's memorial in response to Hurricane Katrina, in which absurdly tall sandbag walls are built around important US flag poles across the city. The sandbags would be filled and stacked by each local community during day-long.. ...
This is a proposal for a people's memorial in response to Hurricane Katrina, in which absurdly tall sandbag walls are built around important US flag poles across the city. The sandbags would be filled and stacked by each local community during day-long.. ...
U9945
01.01.1994
MAK - Wien  - Rosemarie Trockel
Unbuilt Roads
Idee: linke Autospur de [unleserlich] durch dis [?]halle (Saal) verlege[?]. ...
Idee: linke Autospur de [unleserlich] durch dis [?]halle (Saal) verlege[?]. ...
W4597
25.05.2011
"IN MEMORY OF THE (UNKNOWN) VICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE". - Alexander Vaindorf
WWW
"IN MEMORY OF THE (UNKNOWN) VICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE". Full scale model for the monument in Gyumri, Armenia The work was shown at the Gyumri Biennale 2008 ...
"IN MEMORY OF THE (UNKNOWN) VICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE". Full scale model for the monument in Gyumri, Armenia The work was shown at the Gyumri Biennale 2008 ...
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. ...
W3822
19.05.2011
Breath of Light - Kristin O'sullivan Peren
WWW
Breath of Light (LED,recycled plastic blocks,steel computer software) was the finalist in the Northern Gate way Sculpture for Wellington City Council, NZ. as one of 3 finalist where told, there would be a result announced 23 sept 2010. ...
Breath of Light (LED,recycled plastic blocks,steel computer software) was the finalist in the Northern Gate way Sculpture for Wellington City Council, NZ. as one of 3 finalist where told, there would be a result announced 23 sept 2010. ...
W4519
25.05.2011
Gdansk, 2011-05-25 - Malgorzata Lisiewicz
WWW
Gdansk, 2011-05-25 In response to your call for unrealized projects I would like to submit the two from my archives: PROJECT no.1: The submission being as a response to the call for exhibition projects organized on the occasion of the Tenth Anniversar ...
Gdansk, 2011-05-25 In response to your call for unrealized projects I would like to submit the two from my archives: PROJECT no.1: The submission being as a response to the call for exhibition projects organized on the occasion of the Tenth Anniversar ...
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 ...
W5480
21.10.2012
mosque - Marek Kucharski
WWW
The aim of the installation "mosque" is to draw public attention to the changes that occurred for a few years in the Polish culture. Currently, due to the increasing level of wealth in Poland, our country is increasingly becoming a target of emigration. ...
The aim of the installation "mosque" is to draw public attention to the changes that occurred for a few years in the Polish culture. Currently, due to the increasing level of wealth in Poland, our country is increasingly becoming a target of emigration. ...
W4446
25.05.2011
Hop(e) - Alexander Callsen
WWW
Hop(e) is the outline of an inflatable bouncing castle in shape of the headquarters of the major bank Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt am Main - Germany. The german word Hoffnung (HOPE) comes from the root hopen/hüpfen which means "to hop, to bounce (i ...
Hop(e) is the outline of an inflatable bouncing castle in shape of the headquarters of the major bank Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt am Main - Germany. The german word Hoffnung (HOPE) comes from the root hopen/hüpfen which means "to hop, to bounce (i ...
W4989
28.08.2012
Food Sluice - Ulrike Möntmann
WWW
FOOD SLUICE The literal reference of the Food Sluice is to a way of channelling food. Following the principle of a sluice, the flow of food between two spaces is regulated, without there ever being a direct, open connection between these spaces. Un ...
FOOD SLUICE The literal reference of the Food Sluice is to a way of channelling food. Following the principle of a sluice, the flow of food between two spaces is regulated, without there ever being a direct, open connection between these spaces. Un ...
W10252
10.04.2014
Contact - Bastiaan Arler
WWW
In the summer of 1975 a fresh wind blew over the world. At a distance of 225 km, in orbit around the Earth, the USA and the USSR made contact as two spacecraft docked together in a sign of peace. In an instant it lightened the spirit of all of those caugh ...
In the summer of 1975 a fresh wind blew over the world. At a distance of 225 km, in orbit around the Earth, the USA and the USSR made contact as two spacecraft docked together in a sign of peace. In an instant it lightened the spirit of all of those caugh ...
U9796
28.02.1995
Broadway Musicals - Christian Marclay
Unbuilt Roads
Proposal for a Times Square Business Improvement District Traffic Median Public Art Project Febuary 28th, 1995 Artist: Christian Marclay Title: Broadway Musicals Site: Traffic median between Broadway and Seventh Avenue, from 4 ...
Proposal for a Times Square Business Improvement District Traffic Median Public Art Project Febuary 28th, 1995 Artist: Christian Marclay Title: Broadway Musicals Site: Traffic median between Broadway and Seventh Avenue, from 4 ...
W5169
26.09.2012
The winnipeg free museum  - Kendra Place
WWW
The winnipeg free museum (2009–2010) was an impossible, dividual artists' project. If Museums are being built as walled inspiration, promising experience and claiming to face the (carceral/) future, would the non-built or dematerialized, situated within ...
The winnipeg free museum (2009–2010) was an impossible, dividual artists' project. If Museums are being built as walled inspiration, promising experience and claiming to face the (carceral/) future, would the non-built or dematerialized, situated within ...
W5304
17.10.2012
Antarctica Melts Project 1971-2012 - Luciano Zubillaga
WWW
Antarctica Melts Project 1971-2012 The Antarctica Melts Project is a collaboration between artists Luciano Zubillaga and Carlos Ginzburg. It is an extended reconstruction of an historically unrealized ecological project by Argentine conceptualism o ...
Antarctica Melts Project 1971-2012 The Antarctica Melts Project is a collaboration between artists Luciano Zubillaga and Carlos Ginzburg. It is an extended reconstruction of an historically unrealized ecological project by Argentine conceptualism o ...
W4620
25.05.2011
Valeska Peschke
WWW
W10705
30.08.2014
space-in-between  - Ya-Wen Fu
WWW
I seek to discuss the issues about the definition of human body and the relationship between individual body and external surroundings in my artworks. As Maurice Merleau-Ponty describes: ”The human body inhabits in space; moreover, it itself is an expr ...
I seek to discuss the issues about the definition of human body and the relationship between individual body and external surroundings in my artworks. As Maurice Merleau-Ponty describes: ”The human body inhabits in space; moreover, it itself is an expr ...