Further Information

Container Society pt. 1

For many years now, the hapitable shipping containers on Grandi in Reykjavik have been of interest to me. I had learned that the people living there led a rather unusual lifestyle. This caught my attention as I am quite interested in the groups that live on the fringes of society. It took me a number of visits before I managed to gather up the courage to actually introduce myself to the reclusive group of people that resided there.

In the fall of 2017 I knocked on the door. The man who answered was Ólafur Kristjánsson, or Óli. After only a few minutes of conversation, I had taken the first portrait. I told him that this was the beginning of something big. He simply smiled and humoured me. I returned the following day, but Óli wasn’t home. However, the doors on the container next to his were open. Inside was Guðmundur Jónsson, or Gummi. He invited me in, and for the next few hours we talked about everything under the sun. We instantly became good friends, and the following weeks, and months, I made my way back to research, and get further insight into this container society that many may know of, but few notice.

The containers are resources for homeless people and those battling addiction. They are run by the municipal government of Reykjavik, but have for the most part been kept out of the public eye since they were set up as housing resources.

Óli and Gummi, the main characters in this series, are both middle aged men who have lost most everything of value in their lives to addiction.

The photographs give a perspective on the lives and everyday reality of these two men.

The book is published by Grazie Press and designed by Bobby Breiðholt.
Text in book is written by the author Halldór Armand Ásgeirsson.

More info and samples at www.thorsteinnsig.com