As a multidisciplinary studio, Tropical Futures Institute examines the cultural perception that surrounds the tropical region. Exploring different strategies in interfacing with environment and economy, this think tank investigates the framework that reinforces cultural sustainability. As characterized by its founder as a ‘bait and switch,’ TFI, which is initially recognized as a clothing brand, unravels itself into a breadth of applications—including but not limited to the production of art shows, research programs, residencies, and events.
“No person is an island,” a classic quote from the English poet John Donne, alludes to the concept of community. In the greater scheme of an ecosystem, one small act can powerfully set off a chain of events. Everything is built up and connected by the smaller particles that assemble a body; man, who is likewise an amalgamation of his various inspirations, has the power to make or break that whole.