Germany was experiencing a booming, optimistic post-unification economy whilst the UK was a country and an economy still in recession, with growing unemployment and declining optimism. Thatcherite capitalism had left its deep marks on people and places. For Bialobrzeski the UK seemed to still be a class-ridden society, something that he had not previously experienced in Germany. Using this Bialobrzeski documents a country marked by division, capturing streets, homes and public spaces shaped by shifting economies and political agendas.

Shot over the course of a year, the work was shown at Side Gallery in 1993, following Bialobrzeski’s participation in the Unclear Family photographic workshops in Crook, Amiens, Luby and Essen. The project brought a European dimension to the gallery’s exploration of class, place and identity, connecting experiences across national borders while grounding them in specific sites and communities.

Peter Bialobrzeski is a German photographer known for his distinctive approach to urban and social landscapes. Trained in both politics and photography, he studied at the Folkwang School in Essen following which he was awarded a one year DAAD stipend at London College of Communication. His work explores the intersections of globalisation, development, and identity, often focusing on the visual language of cities in transition.