On Valentine’s Day 2026, Kink in the Archive returned for its third edition, bringing together kink enthusiasts, artists, archivists, and professionals for an evening of fetish history, live culture, and collective curiosity.

Curated by Content Warning - the collaborative project of Helena Whittingham and Harlan Whittingham -  a duo working at the intersection of art, fetish history and contemporary sexuality.

Working with the UK Fetish Archive, the project treated the archive as a living thing - an organism that moves, moans, and mutates. Across the building, archival material was reactivated through exhibition, screenings, talks, performances and readings.

Documentation from TRANSFORMATION

TRANSFORMATION was an exhibition exploring the transformative potential of kink and fetish culture presented in the Upper Hall. 

The exhibition brings together material from the UK Fetish Archive, including work from the Centurian Archive — the longest-running fetish company in the world — alongside one of the oldest surviving fursuits in the UK and selections from Atomage, EQUUS EROTICUS and SHINY magazines. These historical materials are presented alongside the work of contemporary fetish makers such as Wrapped in Rubber, Primal Leather, and Soft Skin Latex. 

The exhibition was activated by live modelling throughout the evening by Jenkin Van Zyl, Electric Adam, and Miss May. 

Curated By Content Warning

Photos by Graham Turner and Poppy Pray

Programme: 

Performances — Great Hall 

• Harry Clayton-Wright —  will reinterpret material from their extensive archive to see how porn has influenced their artistic practice, followed by a screening of Deep Clean (2019)
• Operotica — will perform their boundary-pushing opera-meets-kink performance.

• Failsafefailed — will perform a live audiovisual score accompanying digitised 8mm fetish films from the Under the Counter Archive. Failsafefailed is an audiovisual and performance artist, and one half of Four Chambers. 

   

Talks — Courtyard Room 

• Dr Charlie Goldthorpe discusses Revisiting Rubber: Reconstructing Atomage. A project that explores the legacy of Atomage, the pioneering fetish fashion magazine founded by John Sutcliffe.
• Professor Oliver Carter will offer insights into the mysterious makers of these illicit films, screening two films from the Under the Counter Archive in their original 8mm format.

• Mistress Sidonia in conversation with Bishopgate’s archive manager, Stefan Dickers, discussing English Mansion and Mistress Sidonia's extensive history in the scene.

   

Readings — Library 

Live readings from: 

• Miss Marilyn reads from Rotten Apple: Volume One – Shagger, her memoir of life as a Dominatrix and sex worker.
• Scotty Unfamous reads monster erotica.
• Ruby Rare reads from a range of historic sex manuals.

• Jessica Key reads firsthand her encounters in a porn cinema, and more. 

   

Secret Screening — Goss Room 

It wouldn’t be a content warning event without a screening— a chance to see one of our favourites from the archive, a rare full-length film, revealed on the night. 

Corridors, Bars & Interstitial Spaces 

• 8mm Roller Film Cover Exhibition A corridor exhibition of the incredible 8mm roller film covers from the Under the Counter Archive- offering a glimpse into Britain’s illicit adult film trade.
• Bars and music run throughout the evening across the building.
• Archival fetish ephemera- zines, magazines, slides, and printed matter will be on display throughout the library spaces for your viewing pleasure.