South of The River: Photographs by Nico Froehlich

Nico Froehlich (b. 1990) is a British photographer who was born and raised in South East London. As a British citizen and second-generation immigrant, he emphasises and celebrates themes of identity, inclusivity, and diversity in his work.

SOCIAL REALISM

Froehlich initially dreamed of becoming an actor, but ultimately, the camera and photography became his creative outlet. He decided to study at university, after which he gained recognition for his work South of the River and exhibited in the group exhibition Black Bxy Joy at Photofusion.

Social realism in the guise of British cinema had a significant influence on Froehlich during his teenage years, guiding his path as a photographer.

"Celebrating and championing the working-class spirit and optimism is paramount, but it would not be authentic if I did not include the social reality of working-class life in Britain."

EMPATHY

Nico: “I was born and raised in southeast London. I struggled to find an outlet in my early twenties during spells of unemployment and falling in and out of love with acting. Building my acting craft by observing human behaviour eventually transitioned to photography. I decided to study photography at university in my late twenties. Since graduating, I have gained some recognition for my ongoing project, South of the River, authentically documenting and celebrating the south-east London I recognise and call home.

Diversity and colour in their many forms inspire me a great deal. Social realism via British cinema has also had a fundamental influence on me. I grew up watching dramas by filmmakers like Andrea Arnold, Ken Loach, and Mike Leigh. These movies played a significant role during my formative years in developing a strong empathy for the disadvantaged, who are sadly often neglected in British society. Being both British and a second-generation immigrant – celebrating and championing British diversity is at the heart of my photography practice.”

South of the River is an ongoing, long-form project incorporating various genres and approaches. Part social realism, part biographical, but ultimately a celebration of the working-class spirit and the rich diversity of south-east London.”

BAKERLOO

Froehlich dedicates most of his time to his long-term project in Southeast London. He also dedicates a lot of time to his project. Bakerloo – photographing the Bakerloo line of The London Underground, which runs from South East London to North London.

He has won acclaim for his work and received awards, including the Creative Review Photography Annual and the British Journal of Photography’s Portrait of Britain.