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.

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

Just Before Dawn - David Lamelas

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

Grand Concours International D'Architecture  - Mahe Gilles

The insurer - Fabrice Hybert

Financial Times Millennium Bridge Competition - Richard Serra and Frank Gehry

Square Depression - Bruce Nauman

PROPOSAL FOR SEATTLE ARTS COMMISSION, IN PUBLIC - Chris Burden

Aguapracasa - Gabriel Orozco

Chen H.V.O + G.T. - Bertrand Lavier

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W3622
14.05.2011
SIGHT UNSEEN - Marcy B. Freedman
WWW
“Message to curators: Whatever you’re doing right now, do something else next.” Roberta Smith (New York Times, February 14, 2010) THE CONCEPT: SIGHT UNSEEN is intended to challenge traditional notions of curatorial practice. The project establis ...
“Message to curators: Whatever you’re doing right now, do something else next.” Roberta Smith (New York Times, February 14, 2010) THE CONCEPT: SIGHT UNSEEN is intended to challenge traditional notions of curatorial practice. The project establis ...
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 ...
W4793
13.06.2011
Between, Between, no More and Drink a Chair - Natalie Bell
WWW
This is a consciously utopian project aiming to create a very accessible and affordable pocket-sized handbook of English for Spanish-speaking immigrants in New York City. SEE PDF ...
This is a consciously utopian project aiming to create a very accessible and affordable pocket-sized handbook of English for Spanish-speaking immigrants in New York City. SEE PDF ...
W4158
23.05.2011
CODE NAME: HELTER SKELTER - simon tyszko
WWW
CODE NAME: HELTER SKELTER In this project, code named Helter Skelter, I wish to create a series of unique sonic compositions to be performed and played upon (using various sensors, mikes, radio signals, selected instruments and the specific resonant ...
CODE NAME: HELTER SKELTER In this project, code named Helter Skelter, I wish to create a series of unique sonic compositions to be performed and played upon (using various sensors, mikes, radio signals, selected instruments and the specific resonant ...
W3596
13.05.2011
Frame XII - carlo bassetti
WWW
Carlo Bassetti-Frame XII - Mixed media on canvass 1995 ...
Carlo Bassetti-Frame XII - Mixed media on canvass 1995 ...
U9816
05.02.1990
The pyramids...to be seen to be believed - Jonathan Monk
Unbuilt Roads
Glasgow 1990 Cultural Capital of Europe 5 February 1990 Mr Jonathan Monk 22 Cecil Street Hillhead Glasgow G12 8RH Dear Jonathan Monk Thank you very much for your exciting letter concerning your proposed project for this year namely ...
Glasgow 1990 Cultural Capital of Europe 5 February 1990 Mr Jonathan Monk 22 Cecil Street Hillhead Glasgow G12 8RH Dear Jonathan Monk Thank you very much for your exciting letter concerning your proposed project for this year namely ...
W5315
18.10.2012
Garet Martin
WWW
The attached text document explains a wall sculpture that, due to lack of funding, I was not able to complete. -- My work is oftentimes inspired by objects, which I have encountered simply by living my life; trash on the sidewalk, patterns on the t- ...
The attached text document explains a wall sculpture that, due to lack of funding, I was not able to complete. -- My work is oftentimes inspired by objects, which I have encountered simply by living my life; trash on the sidewalk, patterns on the t- ...
W4054
23.05.2011
LIGHT BRIDGE
 - Bradley Pitts
WWW
Unrealized Proposal for LIGHT BRIDGE
 Bradley Pitts, 2003 Light Bridge proposes to bring sunlight from one location on the earth to another, transporting space and time. Mirrors at the source location reflect daylight to a geostationary satellite, ...
Unrealized Proposal for LIGHT BRIDGE
 Bradley Pitts, 2003 Light Bridge proposes to bring sunlight from one location on the earth to another, transporting space and time. Mirrors at the source location reflect daylight to a geostationary satellite, ...
W4995
30.08.2012
Black Fountain - Maarten Daudeij
WWW
Title: Black Fountain Artist: Maarten Daudeij (The Netherlands, Australia) Year of origination of the idea: 2010 Concept: To colour the water in the Three Rivers Fountain on Victoria Square in the middle of Adelaide, South Australia black. Theme: The ...
Title: Black Fountain Artist: Maarten Daudeij (The Netherlands, Australia) Year of origination of the idea: 2010 Concept: To colour the water in the Three Rivers Fountain on Victoria Square in the middle of Adelaide, South Australia black. Theme: The ...
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 ...
W5268
13.10.2012
Olga Motchalova
WWW
ЗАЯВКА Краткие сведения об авторе. Ольга Борисовна Мочалова родилась в Москве в 1962 году. В 1985 г. окончила Московский архитектурный инс ...
ЗАЯВКА Краткие сведения об авторе. Ольга Борисовна Мочалова родилась в Москве в 1962 году. В 1985 г. окончила Московский архитектурный инс ...
W5898
18.10.2013
Open tunnel - Matthijs Muller
WWW
A hilly landscape makes lines of trees disappear behind nearby hills or offers a view at a tree from above. In the Netherlands the flatness of the landscape makes that impossible. But, since the whole country is manmade, the solution for this is also ma ...
A hilly landscape makes lines of trees disappear behind nearby hills or offers a view at a tree from above. In the Netherlands the flatness of the landscape makes that impossible. But, since the whole country is manmade, the solution for this is also ma ...
W5431
20.10.2012
Clizia Cortese
WWW
Project 1 – It was the original idea…a new “dress” for my cutlery… a new grip for a knife, a fork, a spoon, which are not very changed in their functional part ( taking food!) but exactly in their grip! It doesn’t seem comfortable at first gla ...
Project 1 – It was the original idea…a new “dress” for my cutlery… a new grip for a knife, a fork, a spoon, which are not very changed in their functional part ( taking food!) but exactly in their grip! It doesn’t seem comfortable at first gla ...
W4391
25.05.2011
Getting Organized - Daniel Yovino
WWW
Getting Organized, 2008 Ink on copy paper with "giant" push pins 6 ft. x 8 ft. Living Productively Using Your Hipster PDA, 2008 Video still from speech 6 minutes Getting Organized is a collection of mind maps created a few months after a move a ...
Getting Organized, 2008 Ink on copy paper with "giant" push pins 6 ft. x 8 ft. Living Productively Using Your Hipster PDA, 2008 Video still from speech 6 minutes Getting Organized is a collection of mind maps created a few months after a move a ...
W5027
31.08.2012
The Reverse Grand Tour - Valerio Rocco Orlando
WWW
The Reverse Grand Tour 2012 Inspired by the Grand Tour and the experiments conducted by the philosopher of science Bruno Latour, Valerio Rocco Orlando analyzes how context and relationships influence an artist’s practice in Rome today. In order to ...
The Reverse Grand Tour 2012 Inspired by the Grand Tour and the experiments conducted by the philosopher of science Bruno Latour, Valerio Rocco Orlando analyzes how context and relationships influence an artist’s practice in Rome today. In order to ...
W4781
03.06.2011
City of Today: Development for Feminine Urbanism  - Coralina Meyer
WWW
City of Today: Development for Feminine Urbanism A proposal for a fresh urban perspective, the City of Today is a product of the Old Girls Club. It is a series of presentations/drawings/performances/historic fictions where clients are asked to parti ...
City of Today: Development for Feminine Urbanism A proposal for a fresh urban perspective, the City of Today is a product of the Old Girls Club. It is a series of presentations/drawings/performances/historic fictions where clients are asked to parti ...
W4972
24.08.2012
Memories on the Falls - R. Songe Lee
WWW
Memories on the Falls Video projection by R. Songe Lee Place: Niagara Falls Memory of people traverses through space and time that is projected onto the Niagara Falls. There are two projections, one waterfall with a space that still exists ...
Memories on the Falls Video projection by R. Songe Lee Place: Niagara Falls Memory of people traverses through space and time that is projected onto the Niagara Falls. There are two projections, one waterfall with a space that still exists ...
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. ...
W3683
16.05.2011
Mumfordshire - A Megalopolis - Bruce Asbestos
WWW
Mumfordshire is unrealised plan for a megalopolis (a series of interconnected urban areas), which seeks to re-imagine a complex but positive future of mega-cities and society. Mumfordshire is partly based on revising Lewis Mumford’s idea that the Roman ...
Mumfordshire is unrealised plan for a megalopolis (a series of interconnected urban areas), which seeks to re-imagine a complex but positive future of mega-cities and society. Mumfordshire is partly based on revising Lewis Mumford’s idea that the Roman ...
W4880
09.08.2012
Thistlegarden Project - Rob Voerman
WWW
Thistlegarden-project My plan is to create a garden consisting of only of wild thistles. Sown, but mainly re-planted from the wild in early spring, they will be placed in lines and patterns. The overall form will be a grafic representation of an explosi ...
Thistlegarden-project My plan is to create a garden consisting of only of wild thistles. Sown, but mainly re-planted from the wild in early spring, they will be placed in lines and patterns. The overall form will be a grafic representation of an explosi ...
W3518
11.05.2011
Stairway to Heaven - Alex Murdin
WWW
Stairway to Heaven Sometime in the 1800's steps were cut into it on Haytor, a rocky belvedere on Dartmoor in Devon, and an iron handrail was erected alongside. A Doctor Coker, a visitor in 1851, noted the "...stair step to enable the enervated and ping ...
Stairway to Heaven Sometime in the 1800's steps were cut into it on Haytor, a rocky belvedere on Dartmoor in Devon, and an iron handrail was erected alongside. A Doctor Coker, a visitor in 1851, noted the "...stair step to enable the enervated and ping ...
W5089
10.09.2012
Tal Ram On
WWW
Tal Ram On Resume Tal Ran On was born and raised in Kibutz Zikim, following graduation from one of Israeli finest army units, he went and studied film making. Between the years 1995 to 2005, Tal was filming and directing documentaries movies. At 2005, ...
Tal Ram On Resume Tal Ran On was born and raised in Kibutz Zikim, following graduation from one of Israeli finest army units, he went and studied film making. Between the years 1995 to 2005, Tal was filming and directing documentaries movies. At 2005, ...
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 ...
W4869
09.08.2012
Round-trip - Hazem Harb
WWW
Round-trip series 2010 Harb observes a different kind of human suffering when confronted with migrant populations seeking refuge in Italy. He decided to take part in a popular migratory route from Rome to Barcelona commonly used by North African migran ...
Round-trip series 2010 Harb observes a different kind of human suffering when confronted with migrant populations seeking refuge in Italy. He decided to take part in a popular migratory route from Rome to Barcelona commonly used by North African migran ...
W4912
14.08.2012
Kiarash Alimi
WWW
An artwork for a better understanding of the necessity of Arab-Israeli peace. This artwork is based on the metonymic nature of the hebrew word eretz meaning land, soil and ground. Land that is for israelites to take back with bloody wars against other ...
An artwork for a better understanding of the necessity of Arab-Israeli peace. This artwork is based on the metonymic nature of the hebrew word eretz meaning land, soil and ground. Land that is for israelites to take back with bloody wars against other ...
W4086
23.05.2011
Revolution Tree - Grace Weir
WWW
Revolution Tree consists of the siting of a large mature Oak tree, where its rootball is planted in a purpose built container that is extremely slowly continuously revolving. The container and all mechanics are hidden underground and the work is completel ...
Revolution Tree consists of the siting of a large mature Oak tree, where its rootball is planted in a purpose built container that is extremely slowly continuously revolving. The container and all mechanics are hidden underground and the work is completel ...