From disappearing bottles to catalytic clothing: Josh Howgego investigates how a scientist–artist duo is starting conversations about society’s future
UK artist and fashion designer Helen Storey has created some arresting installations over the years. You may have seen a city square filled with miniature tepees made from pairs of jeans, for instance. Or perhaps her series of ‘disappearing’ washing-up bottles. Or watched a model being lowered into a tank of water and her clothes then slowly dissolve.
Walk around any city and you’re sure to stumble across a street installation. But there is one thing that sets Helen’s work apart: many of her recent creations took two people to mastermind – and the second person is a chemist. Tony Ryan, pro-vice chancellor for science at the University of Sheffield, UK, first met Helen in 2004. It began when Helen heard Tony on BBC Radio 4’s science programme Material World.
Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor.
Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.
Get all this, plus much more:
Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.
Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.