The algae in FadingColours show you the coral-algae perspective on our world.

The five living data sculptures are connected to NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch, used to observe and research coral reefs worldwide.

In this partly interactive installation are the living conditions of the algae influenced by this almost real-time data on coral bleaching from NOAA Coral Reef Watch.

Coral reefs are among the most vulnerable ecosystems on the planet. Our world is literally losing colour with the bleaching and disappearance of our coral reefs.

Corals are animals that live in a symbiotic relationship with algae called zooxanthellae – they live inside the coral and provide 90% of the food corals need. Zooxanthellae are also responsible for their bright colours!

Coral bleaching happens when sea temperatures become too high or low. These little temperature changes can cause coral to drive out the algae. 

The algae create a tangible reflection of the situation of their species and the corals under the sea surface.

To keep the algae healthy and alive, one can not change the reef they are connected to. To explore the other coral reefs that are not represented, one can rotate the black disk under the screen and see the realtime data of NOAA Coral Reef Watch of the other 209 reef stations.