Celebrating the cross-over between fashion, music and culture, Somerset House’s latest exhibition sparks the return of the ‘Rudeboy’ to urban London
Bevan Agyeman – Creative Director of Dxpe and To-Orist ©
Akinola Davies – Film Maker ©
This summer a new exhibition, Return of the Rudeboy, will be host by Somerset House. The brainchild of photographer and filmmaker Dean Chalkley and creative director Harris Elliot, the exhibition explores “the style, swagger and significance of the 21st century Rudeboy.”
The term originated in Kingston, Jamaica in the 1950’s, where a cocktail of jazz and ska inspired youngsters to shun their native fashion in favour of slick tailoring and sartorial favourites such as mohair suits and pork pie hats. Fast forward to today and the influence is still evident on the streets of London, on individuals Chalkley and Elliot have photographed over the last 12 months. These portraits will be displayed at Somerset House alongside art and multimedia installations, as well as content produced with collaborators across the entire creative spectrum.
With music being such an important trademark of the modern Rudeboy (or ‘Rudie’), each of the subjects have submitted a playlist of tracks which will be played during the exhibition, in order to give a sonic representation of the Rudeboy lifestyle. There will also be a pop-up grooming bar for visitors to take advantage of.
Daniel @ We Are Cuts ©
Sam Lambert – Art Comes First ©
The exhibition opens this month and runs until 25th August, with free admission. For more information head over to somersethouse.org.uk.
Photography: Dean Chalkley