Tony Fretton: Everything I Saw Became Important
– Editors
On Friday 7 November, Drawing Matter welcomed architects Tony Fretton and Benjamin Machin to the archive for a conversation to open the exhibition ‘Tony Fretton: Everything I Saw Became Important’. Anchored by seven ‘artefacts’ now in the Drawing Matter Collection, the conversation explores the roles of drawings, photography, and sketchbooks in Fretton’s working processes and the development of his positions on design.
The exhibition, which was open on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 November, centred on four of Fretton’s early projects: Mute Records (1986, unbuilt), Lisson Gallery I (1986), Lisson Gallery II (1992), and a competition entry for the Holy Island Buddhist Retreat (1993). Alongside these, it included photographs of the architect’s early performance works with Station House Opera, and Get Ready (1981), a series of images documenting Fretton’s morning routine, influenced by the work of American photographers and performance artists. For the first time in over forty years, Get Ready was exhibited with its original audio track.
More information about the exhibition, including the exhibition guide with texts about each project, can be found here.
Drawing Matter’s public programme offers the public opportunities to experience our drawings collection, which is usually only open to researchers by appointment and for student/practice workshops. Events take the form of talks at the archive, workshops by practitioners and weekend exhibitions.
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