Role: Individual Project
Muddy Corals is an interactive artwork inspired by an exhibit at the Natural History Museum's Fixing Our Broken Planet gallery, which introduced research in Indonesia exploring how muddy water can help protect corals from bleaching by reducing their exposure to sunlight. The project reflects on this unexpected relationship, where something usually associated with pollution can also play a protective role in a fragile ecosystem.
Sunlight particles drift through an underwater environment, gradually bleaching the colourful corals wherever they make contact. Meanwhile, muddy sediment absorbs the light, creating areas of protection. An additional layer of hand interaction introduces the idea of human intervention. By pinching their fingers, visitors can attract and redirect sunlight particles, potentially protecting the corals. However, as the collected light grows into a larger, more intense form, it can cause greater damage. This contrast reflects how well-intentioned interventions can have unintended consequences. The visual design features coral forms representing major coral families affected by bleaching across the Asia-Pacific region.
Developed with p5.js and ml5.js. A key design challenge was balancing layered generative visuals with real-time responsiveness, addressed through optimised particle rendering, pixel-based collision detection, and selective bleaching updates.