Solid Turbulence is a series of photographs by artist Anthony Lam that will be shown at Shadwell Station throughout 2008. The works connect and reflect on historical and contemporary East End narratives, specifically centred on the district of Shadwell. Lam grew up in nearby Limehouse, and considers the optimism, hope and realities of the diverse communities who have for hundreds of years settled in the East End.The artist considers interpretations of Utopia within the built environment, its social fabric and the 'new dawn' arising from the ashes of the old and contemporary East Ends.

The first installation provides the local and visiting public with photographically positive and negative images of the same view, suggesting the co-existance of opposites in the ideals and realities of communities and individuals. Looking skyward, the first pair of images evoke an everyday gesture and a metaphor for hope and looking to the future. Lam reflects on the present regeneration and growth of the area; its transition and transformation and how this impacts on those who live in Shadwell. Solid Turbulence considers particulary the inhabitants of the three tower blocks; Luke House, Winterton House and the new-build Tarling Heights. Looking away from the ground - where roots lie - Lam is interested in the idea of escaping the bounds of earth and living in the air in monuments to (past and current) ideas of social planning, order and contemporary dreams of belonging, which are represented by a regenerated 'future space'.

By presenting the image in positive and negative form, a sense of either plummeting downwards or soaring upwards conveys the contrasting aspects of social relations, physical proximity and individual perceptions of status. Lam is concerned with the lived experience of tower dwellers, and the sense of involvement or detachment that living in such a space generates. He is interested in how people in towers perceive and interact with the world at their level and below: the visual connections between the towers and the social/architectural aspirations each tower (with its embedded layers of history) represents.

Anthony is interested in exploring these issues and narratives further - in collaboration with residents' associations - for the next works in the series, which will be displayed in Autumn 2008.

Solid Turbulence is the first in a series of temporary installations by artists within Shawell Station commissioned as part of the DLR ART programme.