Bristol, UK – Aardman, the multi-award-winning independent animation studio, has announced that the International exhibition The Art of Aardman – Shaun the Sheep and Friends has opened at Forum Groningen in the Netherlands.

Following successful runs in Paris, Melbourne, Frankfurt and Seoul, the popular exhibition giving a masterful insight into the work of Academy Award®-winning Aardman Studios was officially opened in Groningen on Friday, 18th September. 

Clay animation

Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit: the weird and wonderful creations of Aardman Studios are brought to life in Groningen. The exhibition takes visitors on a journey of discovery past original versions of Gromit’s famous vegetable garden, the flying machine from Chicken Run and the spectacular five-metre tall galleon from The Pirates! Band of Misfits.

Interactive

Groningen is the sixth city where The Art of Aardman is exhibited, after Daegu, Seoul, Melbourne, Paris and Frankfurt. In addition to a host of clay models and film sets, Forum Groningen has also added a number of interactive elements to the exhibition.

Hans Poll, Director of Programming and Marketing: “Standing in their shoes for a bit helps you appreciate and understand Aardman’s work even more. In our exhibition, you can learn how to make a storyboard and create your own work in our stop-motion studio.”

Throughout the exhibition, Forum will also be showing Aardman’s entire film oeuvre in its cinemas. Claying workshops will also be organised.

Second exhibition

The Art of Aardman is the second major exhibition at Forum, the landmark culture giant in the centre of Groningen. The programming is spearheaded by popular visual culture, current affairs and technology. The previous exhibition, AI: More than Human, was about artificial intelligence.

Ngaio Harding-Hill, Head of Attractions & Live Experiences, Aardman: “We are delighted that, after journeying to the other side of the world, to venues in South Korea and Australia, the Art of Aardman exhibition is returning to Europe.  The stunning Groningen Forum is the perfect cultural venue to host the exhibition