In her photographic work, Fritzi Schwarzbauer deals with interpersonal relationships.
Since she personally no longer has grandparents, she began to take a particular interest in the relationships between older people. Fritzi began to ask acquaintances from her own environment or even strangers. People who were much further ahead of her in everything, who have seen and experienced so much more. Decades separate them and yet one thing remains essential: the love and connection to others. Fritzi experienced that these change greatly with age and no longer seem to be as self- evident as she perceived. She decided not to devote herself to the topic of romantic love, but to an equally, if not even more important love: friendship.

Often people - especially in old age - only spend time with their partners, live alone, no longer cultivate friendships or their loved ones have already passed away.
In Fritzi Schwarzbauer's graduation project, "Lean on Me", she portrays people from a wide range of ages (between 60 and 85) with their friends.

What connects you? How do you spend your time together and where? Are there rituals? How close are you (in front of the camera)? Are there age differences? Through the series, Fritzi gained an insight into loving and tender connections and experienced hours filled with warmth and stories. The work is meant to reflect that feeling. She wants to share the moments of friendly intimacy with the viewers.