Installation: Stations 3

Stations 3 is a temporary installation by artist G. Roland Biermann, on display outside the Pathfoot Building until the end of March 2026. 

Stations is a series of sculptural installations, made with silvery motorway crash barriers and oil barrels, painted in different shades of red. In many works, the crash barriers are pointing up into the sky, in others they are piercing and slicing the oil barrels, suggesting an act of violence, a system that is out of control. All works combine mundane industrial materials and simplicity of form with layers of meaning. On one level, the works of this series can be seen as a reinterpretation of the Stations of the Cross. On a different level, they address our ongoing dependency on oil and in particular, blood being spilt in the pursuit of fossil fuels, past and present.

In the installation, the oil barrels are sitting flat on the ground. Part of the wall of the barrels has been cut-out and replaced with a flat sheet of steel, so that the barrels, when placed horizontally on the ground, look like drifting in water. This suggests the idea of a ship that has lost its cargo and cargo that has been washed ashore. The barrels are painted in shades of red ranging from bright red to a dark brownish red. Installed in the grounds in this sequence, they suggest fresh blood that congeals, dries and quickens again, referencing the passing of life and the resurrection as well as the life cycle in general.

G Roland Biermann  was born in Bonn, Germany. He studied at New York University (1990 - 91) and lives and works in London. His practice is based on photography, film, sculpture and installation.

https://www.grolandbiermann.com/ 

About the Art Collection

The Art Collection aims to make art and culture a part of everyday life for staff, students and visitors throughout the campus.  We support academics to enable exchanges between art, research and teaching, and inspire everyone to engage with art. Each academic year, all of the Art Collection’s activities are directly inspired by one of the University research themes.  We have designated the 2026-7 session The Year of Topography. All exhibitions and events will consider the arrangements of natural and artificial structures and how artists and researchers work to make sense of our changing landscapes.

Visiting Us

Our exhibitions are on display in the central spine of the Pathfoot Building. The building is open to the public between Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm. Please be aware that the Pathfoot Building is a working teaching building, with students going to classes, academic conferences or private events happening concurrently with your visit. If you require a quiet visiting time, please get in touch with us and we will advise you on the best times for access.

At Pathfoot, there are food and beverage outlets in the Crush Hall and the Dining Room. See the University’s catering website for more information.

Getting Here

The Pathfoot Building is the first building on the left, up the hill as you enter the University. The University of Stirling’s campus is just two miles from the centre of Stirling in central Scotland. We're served by excellent fast public transport links from Glasgow and Edinburgh, and are easily accessible by bus, foot and bike from Stirling city centre or Bridge of Allan. Please be aware that during term time, parking can be extremely busy. See the University Getting Here Page to plan your route.

Get in Touch

You can contact the Art Collection team by 

Email: Art.Collection@stir.ac.uk 

Phone: 01786466050

Office: E1, Pathfoot Building 

Follow the Art Collection on Instagram and Facebook: @artatstirling