  To understand the mechanics of a complex fluid such as a foam we propose a
model experiment (a bidimensional flow around an obstacle) for which an
external sollicitation is applied, and a local response is measured,
simultaneously. We observe that an asymmetric obstacle (cambered airfoil
profile) experiences a downards lift, opposite to the lift usually known (in a
different context) in aerodynamics. Correlations of velocity, deformations and
pressure fields yield a clear explanation of this inverse lift, involving the
elasticity of the foam. We argue that such an inverse lift is likely common to
complex fluids with elasticity.
