Odds and quads

Pillar Man, a bronze sculpture by the Norwegian artist Nicolaus Widerberg, is set against a wall of Northumbria University's gallery in Newcastle.

It stands 6.5m tall and emerges from a stone "river", carved from Norwegian granite, that follows the course of the Pandon Burn, an underground stream running 20m below. The statue's torso was hand-modelled to create the alternating rough and smooth surfaces along its body.

The sculpture is among a number of artworks assembled by gallery director Mara-Helen Wood and her team that are on display across Northumbria's City Campus East and West.

Two other groups by Mr Widerberg form unifying landmarks that link the campuses to the rest of the city: Five Figures (2007) is in the Ellison Quad, while Three Figures (2008) is near the approach to City Campus East.

Both were officially unveiled by King Harald V of Norway during a visit in 2008.

Send suggestions for this series on the treasures, oddities and curiosities owned by universities across the world to: matthew.reisz@tsleducation.com.