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.

Just Before Dawn - David Lamelas

Eight Days a Week - Joe Scanlan

NON REALIZED PROJECTS - Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Isometric Projection - Sol Lewitt

Niemandsland - Hans Haacke

Unrealized Projects - Jonas Meckas

AUSSICHTSTURM, HOLZHAUS (WOHNHAUS), SCHWIMMBECKEN, FREIE FAHRT - Maria Eichhorn

MAK - Wien  - Rosemarie Trockel

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

Broadway Musicals - Christian Marclay

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W3754
18.05.2011
DATENRAUM DEUTSCHLAND (GERMANY DATA SPACE) (A TOPOGRAPHIC, NON-NARRATIVE INFORMATION COLLAGE / VIDEO INSTALLATION) - Ira Schneider
WWW
With support from the Fulbright Commission, Ira Schneider has produced a video installation which in one space presents the historic and contemporary German contribution to world culture. A map of Germany with its 16 federal states (Bundeslands) is tra ...
With support from the Fulbright Commission, Ira Schneider has produced a video installation which in one space presents the historic and contemporary German contribution to world culture. A map of Germany with its 16 federal states (Bundeslands) is tra ...
W3724
17.05.2011
Sgt. Martin Tours  - Jose Luis Rojas
WWW
Sgt. Martin Tours was a sculptural project which never reached completion mainly due to lack of interest on a theme I had been working on for at least five years. Even though, the work remains "postponed" at its best, and I do regret not finishing it.. ...
Sgt. Martin Tours was a sculptural project which never reached completion mainly due to lack of interest on a theme I had been working on for at least five years. Even though, the work remains "postponed" at its best, and I do regret not finishing it.. ...
W3984
21.05.2011
Erin Leland
WWW
My professor photographed me when I was younger and later gave me 3,000 out of a group of 10,000 pictures for my own use. When he died without a will, his two sons found our printed images scattered in the home and the digital images in a number of hard d ...
My professor photographed me when I was younger and later gave me 3,000 out of a group of 10,000 pictures for my own use. When he died without a will, his two sons found our printed images scattered in the home and the digital images in a number of hard d ...
W3519
11.05.2011
Spartak Dulic
WWW
Cocaine sculpture text- on the back of the card ...
Cocaine sculpture text- on the back of the card ...
W3498
11.05.2011
John Ryan
WWW
A meek critique of ambiguous language used in art criticism and statements, I created a list of advice for artists, composed of cut outs from horoscopes. ...
A meek critique of ambiguous language used in art criticism and statements, I created a list of advice for artists, composed of cut outs from horoscopes. ...
W5228
08.10.2012
Julie Ball
WWW
Digital images from an evolving collection of unintentional human mark making Images related as a record of a chance incident in time that has left a physical mark -evidence of the moment. Each mark has its origins as unique, unintentional and undesir ...
Digital images from an evolving collection of unintentional human mark making Images related as a record of a chance incident in time that has left a physical mark -evidence of the moment. Each mark has its origins as unique, unintentional and undesir ...
W3493
11.05.2011
SEX CHAT KARAOKE - Sally-Ann Blaise
WWW
SEX CHAT KARAOKE A Selection of TEXT collected by artist through late night sex chat rooms is printed in duplicate and arranged at the corner of a stage, upon which a small FUNK BAND is playing a GROOVE. audience participate by selecting text in tandem ...
SEX CHAT KARAOKE A Selection of TEXT collected by artist through late night sex chat rooms is printed in duplicate and arranged at the corner of a stage, upon which a small FUNK BAND is playing a GROOVE. audience participate by selecting text in tandem ...
W5000
30.08.2012
Kosuth Instruction Piece - Conny Blom
WWW
Conny Blom Kosuth Instruction Piece Text on A4. The Tributes is a growing series of loving, but somewhat humorous remakes of classic works of art by artists like John Baldessari, Bas Jan Ader, Douglas Gordon and more. Conny Blom remakes pieces that hav ...
Conny Blom Kosuth Instruction Piece Text on A4. The Tributes is a growing series of loving, but somewhat humorous remakes of classic works of art by artists like John Baldessari, Bas Jan Ader, Douglas Gordon and more. Conny Blom remakes pieces that hav ...
W3964
21.05.2011
THE LIBRARY - Liliana Gelman
WWW
The library is a project about books and readers. It consist of two parts, one is the photographic register of books rescued from the street, the beach, or even from the garbage, over my years of immigrant in Israel. los libros de la biblioteca no tie ...
The library is a project about books and readers. It consist of two parts, one is the photographic register of books rescued from the street, the beach, or even from the garbage, over my years of immigrant in Israel. los libros de la biblioteca no tie ...
W4411
25.05.2011
PROJECT SUN RITE „GRAVITATION“ REAL LIFE  - Maria Dundakova
WWW
PROJECT SUN RITE „GRAVITATION“ REAL LIFE place of communication = city of transformation Contribution for the first international Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) design competition 2010, Abu Dhabi The project is an open-ended work, a WORK I ...
PROJECT SUN RITE „GRAVITATION“ REAL LIFE place of communication = city of transformation Contribution for the first international Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) design competition 2010, Abu Dhabi The project is an open-ended work, a WORK I ...
W3790
18.05.2011
Bone-Grass Boy: The Secret Banks of the Conejos River (1995-2000)  - Ken Gonzales-Day
WWW
Original blurb: Bone-Grass Boy: The Secret Banks of the Conejos River (1995-2000) was a conceptually driven project that manifested itself in two ways: one, as a literary trope of the frontier novel of the late nineteenth century, and two, as a digitally ...
Original blurb: Bone-Grass Boy: The Secret Banks of the Conejos River (1995-2000) was a conceptually driven project that manifested itself in two ways: one, as a literary trope of the frontier novel of the late nineteenth century, and two, as a digitally ...
W3663
15.05.2011
AN EXERCISE IN PUBLIC MOVEMENT - Matteo Guidi & Giuliana Racco
WWW
Illuminated intervention in a public swimming pool (conceived 2008) The swimming pool, unlike the ocean or sea, is a circumscribed space. We intend to temporarily reverse this sensation of limited space by converting the walls of the pool to dark blue/ ...
Illuminated intervention in a public swimming pool (conceived 2008) The swimming pool, unlike the ocean or sea, is a circumscribed space. We intend to temporarily reverse this sensation of limited space by converting the walls of the pool to dark blue/ ...
W3821
19.05.2011
Thanatopolis / Solace grove - Rebecca Keller
WWW
This was a proposal for a project called "Thanatopolis" --asking for outdoor works that explored the rituals of interment and memorialization. (This proposal was for an outdoor art environment that was also a place of memory) Imagine walking though ...
This was a proposal for a project called "Thanatopolis" --asking for outdoor works that explored the rituals of interment and memorialization. (This proposal was for an outdoor art environment that was also a place of memory) Imagine walking though ...
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 ...
W4152
23.05.2011
She - Cornford & Cross
WWW
We proposed to position an eternal flame in physical and symbolic relation to the Lion statue in Forbury Gardens, Reading, England.. The Lion commemorates a battle in 1880 in Maiwand, Afghanistan — Britain’s last military involvement in Afghanistan b ...
We proposed to position an eternal flame in physical and symbolic relation to the Lion statue in Forbury Gardens, Reading, England.. The Lion commemorates a battle in 1880 in Maiwand, Afghanistan — Britain’s last military involvement in Afghanistan b ...
W5464
21.10.2012
Electron Self-Portrait - Lauren Jo
WWW
An electron microscope uses a beam of electrons to illuminate a specimen and produce a magnified image. In particular, a scanning electron microscope shoots focused electron beams that rather than carrying an image itself back to the lens, probes the spec ...
An electron microscope uses a beam of electrons to illuminate a specimen and produce a magnified image. In particular, a scanning electron microscope shoots focused electron beams that rather than carrying an image itself back to the lens, probes the spec ...
W4022
22.05.2011
Holly Crawford
WWW
Performance/Installation, proposed 1997, identity and feminism using popular cultural image of Minnie and Mickey Mouse. Cancelled last minute due to funds). Minnie Mouse and Why is she depressed? Proposal for performance/installation Disney ...
Performance/Installation, proposed 1997, identity and feminism using popular cultural image of Minnie and Mickey Mouse. Cancelled last minute due to funds). Minnie Mouse and Why is she depressed? Proposal for performance/installation Disney ...
W4754
27.05.2011
Billboard - Oona Stern
WWW
Using the technique of banner advertising ubiquitous throughout the city, a scaffolding bridgeway in lower Manhattan would be wallpapered with an image of architectural material. Reclaiming architectural surfaces from the pervasion of advertising, "billbo ...
Using the technique of banner advertising ubiquitous throughout the city, a scaffolding bridgeway in lower Manhattan would be wallpapered with an image of architectural material. Reclaiming architectural surfaces from the pervasion of advertising, "billbo ...
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! ...
W4579
25.05.2011
URBAN ENTANGLEMENT - Annita Koutsonanou | Evy Tsolaki | Maria Spaniola
WWW
URBAN ENTANGLEMENT …I thought of a maze of mazes, of a sinuous, ever growing maze which would take in both past and future and would somehow involve the stars [..]. I thought that a man might be an enemy of other men, of the different moment of other ...
URBAN ENTANGLEMENT …I thought of a maze of mazes, of a sinuous, ever growing maze which would take in both past and future and would somehow involve the stars [..]. I thought that a man might be an enemy of other men, of the different moment of other ...
U9646
16.01.1997
Dog Jaw Monument - A Futurist Tele-introject - Leon Golub
Unbuilt Roads
Years: A.D 2096, A.D. 2777, A.D. 3096 See drawing (to be submitted if desired) note: time - 2096 - becoming a critical exponential extension of the artist's hand (eventual reasons why the work has not been realised) Project has not reached a cri ...
Years: A.D 2096, A.D. 2777, A.D. 3096 See drawing (to be submitted if desired) note: time - 2096 - becoming a critical exponential extension of the artist's hand (eventual reasons why the work has not been realised) Project has not reached a cri ...
W4608
25.05.2011
jeffrey schiff
WWW
W4294
24.05.2011
Holger C. Lönze
WWW
The proposed two-part sculpture draws from the rich maritime heritage of the Atlantic and celebrates the elements that have determined the lives of generations of local communities: wind and tides. The context for the two parts of the work are the iconic ...
The proposed two-part sculpture draws from the rich maritime heritage of the Atlantic and celebrates the elements that have determined the lives of generations of local communities: wind and tides. The context for the two parts of the work are the iconic ...
W5218
07.10.2012
Batta Mon - OKAMOTO Mitsuhiro
WWW
In this case, I mean unaccomplished exhibition period as 'unrealized project'. After the show started, Louis Vuitton has asked KOBE FASHION MUSEUM to stop showing my artwork 'Batta Mon', to stop selling the show catalog and also to remove the show poster ...
In this case, I mean unaccomplished exhibition period as 'unrealized project'. After the show started, Louis Vuitton has asked KOBE FASHION MUSEUM to stop showing my artwork 'Batta Mon', to stop selling the show catalog and also to remove the show poster ...
W3547
12.05.2011
Morality - Peter Dickinson
WWW
An interactive painting installation titled Morality The project is outlined at this link and a pdf with instructions on how morality would be managed can also be found on this page. http://www.peter-dickinson.co.uk/Morality.html ...
An interactive painting installation titled Morality The project is outlined at this link and a pdf with instructions on how morality would be managed can also be found on this page. http://www.peter-dickinson.co.uk/Morality.html ...
W3782
18.05.2011
De Almeida e Silva
WWW
wanna build a Tv DVd player sustain by battery, play a video loop on it, and covered it in a box of concrete, creating an actual endless loop. like the Myth of Sisyphus. ...
wanna build a Tv DVd player sustain by battery, play a video loop on it, and covered it in a box of concrete, creating an actual endless loop. like the Myth of Sisyphus. ...