The Queer Pleasure Archive is a socially engaged art project and new DIY archive by Newcastle based artist Sarah Li.
The project was born out of a lack of positive and joyful representation of queer people in archives and collections.
Artist Sarah Li collaborated with a select group of LGBTQ+ individuals based in the North-East of England — all connected to the LGBTQIA+ community — to explore the layered meaning of “pleasure” within a Queer context.
Together, they delved into how Queer pleasure could be documented, examining its ties to activism, the ways it was experienced, and the barriers that stood in the way.
The project worked towards building an archive that addressed gaps left by historical oppression, creating space for positive Queer experiences to be shared and accessed by researchers and the wider LGBTQIA+ community alike. Participants were empowered to uncover their own histories and connect more deeply with their identities.
