31st January 2025
Chosen archive:
A Visual Index
sorting, systematising, assigning
The archives we selected include:
- Lunch (1970–1973), an in-house magazine for CHE (Campaign for Homosexual Equality).
- An autobiography from the 1800s that explores crime and discrimination against homosexuality.
- A collection of posters about fetishes, compiled from the 1990s onwards.
As a group, we were tasked with creating a visual index for these archives. We wanted to take a unique approach, so we identified common themes among the three collections—specifically their connections to LGBTQ+ rights, politics, and crime.
We ultimately designed the index in the form of a mirror (as seen in the attached image) so that it could be displayed in a public space and draw people in to engage with it. The mirror also serves as a metaphor for self-reflection, encouraging viewers to see themselves in the history of the LGBTQ+ community and consider how these issues continue to resonate today.
Process^
Final outcome
Many of the archives deal with how LGBTQ+ individuals have been perceived, criminalized, and fetishized over time. The mirror, especially with a slightly warped or fragmented reflection, can symbolize these shifting perceptions and the ways in which queer identities have been shaped (and sometimes distorted) by societal norms.
Unlike a traditional display, a mirror invites interaction. As people approach, they see themselves among the historical materials, making the experience more personal and immersive. This encourages deeper engagement with the content, rather than passively reading about the past.
