Wonderland in Sheffield

Since 2005 scientist Professor Tony Ryan, University of Sheffield, and artist and designer Professor Helen Storey, London College of Fashion, have worked together to create real solutions for a more sustainable world.

The Wonderland exhibition brings together the worlds of art and science. By working together, Ryan and Storey have been able to use their different backgrounds to spark new ideas on the application of science and discover practical solutions to current ethical issues.

This unique exhibition was first shown in 2008 - 2009 in a showcase of talent, imagination and creativity. It toured from London, to a city-wide event in Sheffield and then to Belfast.

Original tour:

The project developed a number of products, in varying stages of completion. The exhibitions in Sheffield will demonstrate two of these: dissolving bottles and disappearing dresses.

Dissolving bottles
The dissolving bottles, to be shown at the city’s Botanical Gardens, are an exploration of intelligent packaging. Once finished with, the bottles dissolve under hot water to form a gel in which seeds can be grown. The concept could revolutionise the packaging industry and aims to highlight issues surrounding waste plastic.

Disappearing dresses
The disappearing dresses will be on show at Meadowhall Shopping Centre. They are made from dissolving textiles designed Trish Belford at Interface, at the University of Ulster. The material dissolves in water, creating vibrant underwater fireworks. The dresses will be hung from scaffolds and gradually lowered into giant goldfish bowls of water. The exhibition questions the environmental sustainability of our current fashion industry and what happens to used clothing.

Events and exhibitions will also be held at Sheffield’s Millennium Galleries and the University of Sheffield.

Helen Storey

Research Interests

• New technologies in the sciences and arts
• Emotional Literacy
• Cross-curricular tools for reaching new public audiences
• Human well-being
• Delivering new content to invigorate the National Curriculum
• New environmental solutions
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Current Research

My work widely spans the arts, sciences and new technology fields. I produce projects which illuminate aspects of science and well being in ways that directly interact with the public, with the broad aim of helping individuals reach their full creative potential. More recently I have begun to focus my creative energy on working in collaboration with other Universities to solve global problems.