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WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING...OBEY ART SPACE AMSTERDAM MIDDLE DISTANCE BY RYAN HAWAII

This past Friday, we celebrated the opening of “Middle Distance”, an exhibition by Ryan Hawaii. Much love to everyone who came through.

This body of work explores Hawaii’s ongoing engagement with spiritual themes. A central motif is the eye, an allegory for life itself: the centre symbolising existence, while the chambers on either side embody “before life” and “afterlife.” Life, suspended between these two realms, becomes the “middle distance”, a space filled with its rich spectrum of experiences, both positive and negative.

Another key theme is the transcendence of place. Through paintings and drawings, Hawaii takes viewers on a journey across physical and mental landscapes, transporting from Cuba to Morocco to London, and into the surrealist territories of his dreams. These subconscious spaces form yet another “middle distance,” bridging reality and abstraction.

The exhibition reflects Hawaii’s long-standing connection to Amsterdam, which is also a “middle distance” between London and the Rhode Island streets were OBEY was born. The show serves as a the platform for Hawaii’s meeting of the minds with legendary founder Shepard Fairey.

The exhibition runs until 31st October.
OBEY Art Space Amsterdam | Runstraat, 25

A special thank you to Kruz Leone and Styn for the fierce energy and music.

Cheers Peroni + Viper for providing the beverages.

Captured by Aryan Hamrani.

Tue, Oct 14 2025

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