Return of the Rudeboy

‘The Return of the Rudeboy' was an immersive exhibition last year at Somerset House in London exploring the style, swagger and significance of the 21st century Rudeboy, including original photography, film, installations and a programme of live events. Created by Photographer and Film maker Dean Chalkley and Creative Director Harris Elliott, the depiction reveals a collective of sharply dressed individuals who exemplify an important and rarely documented subculture. The duo has photographed over 60 sharply dressed individuals from across the UK, all of whom embody the essence of what it is to be a Rudeboy (or Rudie) in the 21st century, to document the life, style and attitude of this growing urban group. Originating from the streets of Kingston, Jamaica in the late 1950s, Rudeboy or Rudie came to represent the young rebels who wore distinctively sharp sartorial styles such as Mohair suits, thin ties and pork pie hats. The ‘Return of the Rudeboy’ exhibition has now been encapsulated into a beautifully printed 128-page hard cover book. Containing unseen images, essays on Rudeboy heritage and culture and references to the curated spaces at the Somerset House exhibition.