Ryan Hawaii - The Artist Unafraid To Share His Vulnerabilities

Over the past decade artist and musician Ryan Hawaii has been building a career that, from the outset, appeared to be limitless. Alternating between fashion, visual art and music, his world is full of symbolic forms and candid self expression. Known for his iconic illustrations, colourful one of one clothing and an ever present one eyed figure, Hawaii is as authentic as his artwork suggests. From exhibitions and collaborations, to linking up with the likes of Skepta and Virgil Abloh, Hawaii’s recognisable style is steadily becoming more refined.

Looking at his clothing brand online, Factory, and listening to previous tracks, I’d presumed that the anarchic nature of Hawaii’s art would mirror his personality. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. This talented soul looks at creativity as a spiritual encounter between the outside world and internal thought. Using art as a form of emotive self expression and being sincere in his responsibility to nurture the creative growth of others around him, as well as himself.

This mentality is reflected in his stories of childhood and the influential encouragement shown by his Mother and Grandmother. “They both supported me, telling me I could do whatever I wanted to do. As a child my Nan would always take me down to the Southbank to watch the skateboarders and then we’d go to the Tate Modern. It was my earliest interaction with art.” These memories make sense of the way Hawaii approaches his work today, combining DIY street style with sophisticated design. “I want to express my world to people in any which way I can; be that installation, sculpture, figurines, paintings, drawings”. Combining this with his fashion and music, Hawaii is fearless of moving between methods and materials so as to develop his archive of work.

““Our emotions can change from day to day, and that can be overwhelming or uncomfortable. My art is my escape from this reality so I don’t overthink it. I allow it to be spontaneous, quick, and efficient.””

Hawaii tells me how drawing has always been his way of communicating experiences, even when he was younger. This practise continued and became an essential tool for articulating thoughts and feelings, aiding Hawaii’s mental health and well being. “It’s become my own visual language that I express ideas through. There’s always a concept behind the simplistic drawings and figures, be it emotional or spiritual.” When asking Hawaii to expand on these ideas, he explains “I feel sensitive to people's energy and my own emotions so I try to subvert what's going on in my life or those around me and put it into artwork. I try to draw things that can’t be seen but are experiences that we all go through, the things that we feel.” This insight offers a clearer view of Hawaii’s work which, on some levels, appears gently naive and understandable but when looking closer, become surreal abstractions of figures and forms. “I like the idea of creating artifacts that only I understand but that are open to interpretation. For people to relate to with their own ideas”.

It was in his late teenage years that Hawaii was inspired to work harder and allow his art to become a full time job. “I had people along the way who fanned my flames and made me realise that what I was doing was viable as a career.” It was the endorsement of others believing in his work that helped shine a light on his art, including figures like Skepta and Virgil Abloh (designer and artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear) “Both Skepta and Virgil are legends in what they do so it was like a seal of approval and a real blessing to work with them, to experience how they think.” Reflecting on the past, Hawaii notes how these relationships were all about learning from one another, helping to become better versions of oneself.

““I always want people to be the best version of themselves, to shine as brightly as they can. I see the light within people, even if they can’t see it themselves, and I’ll
always try to encourage them.””

Hawaii continues to carry this mentality of supporting fellow artists, fueled by his understanding of life’s abundance of opportunities. “The universe wants you to do well. It doesn’t want you to fail. However, the world and society can be a pretty harsh and unforgiving place which gives people a warped perspective.” Hawaii expands on this idea of believing in your own power and abilities. “Some people call it God, some call it the self but I think it's a mixture of the two - the God within everyone. Not an external figure but an infinite source and an internal divinity.” This earnest sentimentality is something that, when acknowledged, appears in much of Hawaii’s work. From the characters on his clothing to the lyrics in his raps, there is a unified sense of Hawaii’s creative spirit and identity.

““It’s about living the best life possible, having an impact on this earth, and making it worthwhile.””

In the last few months, the many levels of Hawaii’s crafts have begun cross referencing themselves. His most recent project, in collaboration with Japanese clothing brand EDWIN (featured in RTF’s editorial), saw Hawaii’s illustrations printed onto denim and his drawings become the backdrop to the collections visual campaign. One of Hawaii’s tracks was also used to accompany the fashion video, bringing together his multidisciplinary approach to making art. Hawaii’s music is similar to his drawings; meaningful and understated. Wandering through low-fi hip hop and intuitive rap, Hawaii uses his voice to capture a feeling and speak his truth. “I use music as an outlet for my emotions. I have songs about depression, suicide, love, and trying to be a better person. They’re quite unorthodox things to say in a rap song but it's what I want to share and I enjoy making the music.” However, this freedom of expression hasn’t always come easily to Hawaii. “Previously, it was really hard for me to make a song because I thought that people wouldn’t want to hear what I had to say. So I had to get over that, knowing I’m just expressing my reality.”

““Previously, it was really hard for me to make a song because I thought that people wouldn’t want to hear what I had to say. So I had to get over that, knowing I’m just expressing my reality””

A new step in Hawaii’s musical career has been his collaboration with fellow designer and musician, Rago Foot (featured in RTF’s editorial). As a producer and lyricist, Rago Foot is one to watch, displaying skills that transform the idea of rap into thought provoking, evocative musical composition. Both artists tell me how their latest project, Vessel Mentality EP, was heavily informed by the pandemic; encouraging a retrospective approach to writing music. Harnessing a brotherly solidarity through eachothers creative company, Rago Foot explains how “Music is my religion, it’s a very spiritual experience. And artists are my tribe, I’m drawn to their creative spirit.” Describing the relationship he has formed with Hawaii as organic and naturally beneficial. “We’ve had similar experiences creatively and we remind each other of who we are. Because the negative experience of being an independent artist is that you can get lost in the current''. By empathising with one another's reality, a trusting transparency appears, allowing for productive collaboration.

When discussing their working relationship, Hawaii explains how “It's about friendship, kinship and we support each other. I think that’s something that not enough people put value on, the support system. Instead, everyone focuses on their own journey which I think is quite a London mentality.” By stepping into other people’s creative bubbles, both artists recognise the space it creates for growth and development. Whilst Hawaii reflects on how Rago has helped him with lyric writing and structure, Rago explains how “when you work with other people it helps you recognise the different ways we see things. It changes the perspective, puts you into other people’s shoes”. Such a benefit has fed and fueled these two artists' creations, helping them to bounce off each other's knowledge and encourage an approach to making that is full of care and consideration.

Stepping back from Ryan Hawaii’s studio and observing the direction of his latest work, it’s clear how his entrepreneurial mindset has helped him build upon his talents. Using each avenue of creativity as an opportunity to further his practise and express his spectrum of thoughts and feelings. In a time when isolation and change is impacting many people's mental health, Ryan Hawaii offers a new voice of masculine self expression. Something which, when tuned into, can encourage a transformative approach to life itself.

Ryan Hawaii and Rago Foot’s recent EP, Vessel Mentality, in collaboration with Goya Gumbani is out now.

Both artists are dressed in their own designs from Factory™ and Best Kebab.

Follow Ryan Hawaii on Twitter here and Instagram @ryanhawaii.
Follow Rago Foot on Instagram @ragofromthelo

Credits:

• Interview & words by Bethany Burgoyne

• Photography: Kim Lang

• Styling: Rama Bseiso