Curious clay creatures hiding out in the Art Gallery and Maritime Museum!
A cast of clay characters created by North-East ceramicists Nicola Seal and Joseph Morgan have
taken up residence in the Art Gallery and Maritime Museum. The curious creatures are part of two
new family-friendly trails which are designed to encourage visitors of all ages to explore the
buildings, look closely at artworks and objects and spark imagination and curiosity.
At the Art Gallery, Nicola Seal’s Meet the Craiturs characters are a playful response to the artworks
and spaces. There are 17 hand-crafted clay creatures to find, each hidden in a different gallery
space. From ‘Granny’s Teeth’ lurking under a sculpture, to ‘Pierre le Croissant’ dreaming of French
lunches, every sculpture has its own quirky personality and backstory.
Nicola said: “Aberdeen Art Gallery is my happy place. As a mother of two, I wanted to create
something that would make the Gallery even more engaging for children — and give adults a bit
more time to enjoy the art too! The craiturs are designed to be fun, surprising and a little bit
cheeky.”
Meanwhile at the Maritime Museum, ceramicist Joseph Morgan has deployed a squad of Rovies in
his Meet the Munchies trail. A family of hungry Planktonians are munching their way through the
museum and the Rovies are needed to round them up before they take another mouthful.
Joseph Morgan said: “It has been a joy working with the team at the Aberdeen Maritime museum.
They gave me all the freedom I needed to make a fun and engaging treasure trail. In turn the project
has sent my own work into new exciting directions. I've hidden some of the Planktonians really well
so you'll need to look extra hard. Good luck and have fun! “
Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesman, said: “Nicola and Joseph have
created splendid characters which encourage you to think and ask questions when walking around
the Gallery and Maritime Museum. The figures are joyful and imaginative features that really help
you enjoy the experience. The trails make the buildings more welcoming and more fun to explore.
They encourage you to look around the rooms with a different perspective. This inventive project
really adds an extra dimension to the visit."
The Art Gallery and Maritime Museum are open daily and admission is free – donations are
welcome. For visiting information and to find out what’s on go to www.aagm.co.uk
See more of Joseph Morgan’s ceramic creations at www.8bitclay.com
Instagram @joseph_morgan_ceramics
Explore Nicola Seal’s work at www.sealceramics.com
Instagram @nicola_seal