Odds and Quads

It is the creation of Gassan Mohammed, who fled Iraq in 2002 in search of a safe haven for himself, his wife and young son. He eventually reached Middlesbrough, where he signed up for a master's in fine art at Teesside and submitted the "dream machine" as his final project.

"It represents a map and journey of human desire to escape from war to find a place called dreamland," he explains, "and I am part of this journey, uprooting and relocating because of war. The idea for Dream Migration represents the human desire to dream, hope and wish for love and life. This is a very emotional thing for everyone caught up in a war they want to escape from."

After graduating with a distinction and a prize for the best postgraduate international student, Mr Mohammed settled in Middlesbrough with his wife, son and daughter. His striking and thought-provoking artwork remains in the university as an inspiration for the next generation of students.

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