Co(r)ral, 2022

Co(r)ral is a generative art collection reminding us of the importance of gathering together to confine our impact on ecosystems. The collection consists of 100 unique artworks which were generated from a single algorithm on December 4th 2022.
The collection looks to examine the theme of "reconciliation with the living" through the lens of coral bleaching. Coral bleaching occurs when coral is stressed, causing it to expel the colourful zooxanthellae that live inside the coral providing energy and nutrients. The most common cause of stress leading to coral bleaching is rising ocean temperature, although pollution can also be a factor. Between 1985 and 2018, 87% of the world's reefs experienced bleaching level heat stress and in March 2022 91% of the Great Barrier Reef was impacted by bleaching.
If water temperature and other conditions return to normal then coral can recover from bleaching, rather than dying. Co(r)ral seeks not only to highlight the dramatic impact of coral bleaching but also to remind us that the damage can be reversed.
The colours of Co(r)ral are inspired by the vibrancy of coral reefs and the rich marine life they support. In some pieces you can see rays of sunlight illuminating the scene, in others that light is occluded.
There's a total of nine different colour palettes, each named for a type of coral: Bubble, Carnation, Gorgonian, Leaf, Pipe, Precious, Starlet, Sun and Vase. Colour is typically applied per layer but occasionally forms a gradient across the piece.
Like the coral inspiring it, Co(r)ral is a dynamic artwork. Interacting with a live piece triggers an animation loop between its healthy, colourful state and its stressed bleach state. Clicking again will pause the loop. Each piece has an initial state which is either healthy, mixed or bleached, thereby reflecting the different states of coral reefs across the world. Just as coral can recover from bleaching if temperatures drop and conditions normalise so Co(r)ral loops between those states – a reminder of our responsibility to act to reverse the damage.
Co(r)ral can be displayed in triptych to highlight the change in state. It can be displayed as a looping, live artwork or as a single interactive piece. When viewed up close, you can see the distinct dots that create the piece – with each artwork consisting solely of two to three million coloured dots.