We see them in many Swedish cities these days. Often on a bicycle and with a large backpack with a company logo on the back, on their way to deliver food somewhere. But who are they? What do they think about their job?
In the exhibition Gig – the person behind the app, we get to follow people who work as food delivery people in the so-called gig economy in text and images. In its documentation, the Arbetets museum has interviewed nine people in Norrköping and Uppsala who are or have been food delivery men. In the exhibition, we get to hear the food vendors’ own voices in both short and long quotes, accompanied by photographer Kevin Chang’s images from Norrköping, Uppsala and Stockholm.
BRIEFLY ABOUT THE GIG ECONOMY:
The gig economy consists of several different industries where the Arbetets museum has chosen to investigate food delivery in particular. In summary, gig work can be described as short assignments that are mediated via an app. Sometimes the person doing the work is employed by a company, sometimes he is seen as self-employed. In some cases the employee receives an hourly wage, in other cases he is only paid for the task performed. Most gig companies in Sweden do not have a collective agreement. Positive aspects highlighted are that it is a flexible job that is easy to both get and perform. Among the negative aspects can be mentioned unsafe working conditions, risky work situations and lack of clarity regarding employer responsibilities.
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Kevin Chang is educated at Nordens Fotoskola Biskops-Arnö. He received PFK’s scholarship “Rookie of the Year” in 2019. During the years 2018 and 2020, Kevin Chang’s photos were shown at the Arbetets museum’s Documentary Photo Salon.
