As someone who has been to the V&A East Storehouse previously, I knew what to expect. The storehouse is an open concept museum, full from top to bottom with remnants of a time passed.
But, Shahed Saleem’s commission was a well-crafted look at East London today.
‘I Was Born Here’ by Shahed Saleem at the V&A East
The tapestries are all located under the remarkably carved, wooden, Torrijos ceiling. Torrijios is located near central Spain and the ceiling probably dates to the late 15th Century. The ceiling’s aesthetic is a clear look into the influence of Islamic architecture in this historical period.
The clear inspiration for the ceiling is contrasted with the tapestries below which highlight the multi-cultural modern East London and the anti-immigration policy and language which comes with it.
The first tapestry, Queen’s Market, shows Newham’s Queens Market in all its glory. Vendors and shoppers from all different backgrounds are shown going about their daily lives, trollies and carrier bags in arms, all surrounded by the same golden glow.
When you look closer at the craftsmanship, you’ll notice something quite incredible. The beautiful material. Dresses, jeans, hijabs and turbans are brightly coloured, with tons of fun fabrics to look at.
The words above read “LONG LIVE QUEENS MARKET” a celebration of East London commerce. But at the bottom the phrase “ISLAND OF NEIGHBOURS”. This is a reference to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in 2025 where he described the UK as at risk of becoming “an island of strangers” as a result of immigration, which many critics found similar to Enoch Powell’s widely known Rivers of Blood speech, which was expressing his fears with immigration.
The second tapestry, Home Office, is in reference to the 2013 Home Office vans that targeted six East London boroughs encouraging self-deportation. The slogans pictured were present on these vans, “GO HOME OR FACE ARREST”, “106 ARRESTS LAST WEEK”.
The inflammatory language is framed front and centre, with a thick red border breaking up the beautiful blue geometric background. The language does not stop in the centre, “SECURE OUR BOARDERS” and “HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT” are stitched into the top and bottom of the tapestry, a reminder that while being a decade old, this kind of rhetoric still persists today.
The Third Tapestry, For God and Gold, is definitely one you should spend time looking at yourself. It blends the Torrijos ceiling and anti-immigration sentiments towards East London perfectly, going through the effects of Spain’s colonialism and prioritisation of religious and ethnic purity. Decorated with sequins, bold and detailed fabrics and colourful flare.
This is definitely a must see when you are next in the area!
What is the V&A East’s New Work?
Twice yearly the V&A commissions local artists to create work in response to a theme, exploring how art and design intersect with daily life. The first theme is Making East London, reflecting on the area’s past and potential futures.
More Information:
The V&A East Storehouse is located in Stratford’s East/ Olympic Village (E20) and is around a 20 minute walk from Stratford Station.
The artwork will be on display until Sunday, 18 October 2026.
