Return of the Rudeboy Exhibition @ Somerset House

     Over the summer holidays, I decided to go to a range of museums and exhibitions to increase my inspiration and creativity. The exhibition that stood out the most to me was the 'Return of the Rudeboy'; which was held at the Somerset House. The exhibition itself was carried out by the outstanding and original prolific photographer, Dean Chalkley alongside creative director, Harris Elliott. The exhibition had a sense of morality and sentimental meaning to it due to the creation of the original Jamaican rude boy in the late 1950's all the way up to present, with their strong influence in a new mixed cultural society, fashion and music.

             'Rudeboys' sartorial influence – sharp suits, pork-pie hats, shiny shoes – was felt in both the early mod and, more problematically, skinhead movements of the early and late 60s, as imported ska and bluebeat singles from Jamaica ignited the hipper dance floors of London and beyond.'  
                                                                               
                                                           The Guardian-The Observer: Rude boys: Shanty Town to Savile Row

    The exhibition was spread out in various rooms, which all contained installations such as, suitcases, comb sets, trimmers and more. Not to mention the relatively large portraits and even an active barbers shop within one of the rooms. I think this exhibition relates well to the theme of 'Structure and Attachment in Mono' due to the setback to the 20th Century's fashion and heritage. This includes a range of topics from history, fashion, society, culture, urbanisation, attitude, life and perhaps even dialect. However, with this exhibition, they have gathered individuals (majority of them from London) who still have the 'Rudeboy' attitude and flair in the new and modern 21st Century generation. Thus, Chalkley and Elliott both wanted to highly present these key individuals to thousands of people around the world for their unique and sophisticated heritage.

    The things I liked most about this exhibition was the drive and passion for this rich culture, which inspires me to pursue something to do with my own American and English heritage. Moreover, I liked all the little personal touches, such as the combs and scissors, which were personal necessities for all the rude boys in this era. Therefore, this works well with both structure and attachment in the sense that rude boys had been vastly growing in numbers since the late 1950's and they all have their own personal attachments, which makes them who they are today.