HÄN is an archive dedicated to dyke, lesbian, trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming communities and their creative heritage. Launched in July 2022 in London, it encompasses a digital archive, website, publishing, art and community projects seeking to connect people across generation and give queer history a new life. It is a tool to combat erasure and celebrate queer joy.

The idea for the HÄN archive and community was conceived in 2020 by fashion designer and creative director Ella Boucht. It emerged from gaps and voids of history, from hours spent researching LGBTQI+ creative heritage, from exchanging books, lists of names, links and images, and wishing that we had more accessible resources in which to find our own reflection. HÄN is an archive which connects the queer past with queer futures. It’s an offer to look at an archive as something we could all be actively contributing to, and something we are already constructing through our existence. Archives are a living breathing strategy. Archives are sexy.

HÄN aims to provide a safe space for queer people to connect and share their creativity – photography, art, writing and personal correspondence and interviews – while also creating a contemporary archive for the community.

To mark the HÄN launch, we are releasing a special publication printed in limited edition of 400. The publication was created by Ella Boucht, Anya Gorkova and Anastasiia Fedorova, with art direction and design by Ester Mejibovski, and supported by Arts Council England.

 

Want to collaborate, submit work, just say hello or maybe distribute our publication? Don’t be shy - say hi

Chat to us → hi@han-archive.com

Instagram → @h.a.n.archive