That’s a brilliant idea—think of a Baroque palette, but the pigments come from living corals, and the brushwork is like a GIF that flickers in the light. I’d set up a room with a huge projected reef that pulses, and then layer in hand‑drawn caricatures of sea creatures doing human things, like a dolphin in a beret sipping espresso. The classic part is the chiaroscuro, the dramatic light and shadow, while the quirky side is the playful meme‑style captions that pop up when visitors walk by. It’s a conversation between the old masters and the digital wave, and it keeps the audience laughing even as they appreciate the depth of color and form.

I’m thinking of the Elkhorn and Staghorn species—those branching ones that bleed a bright teal and coral pink when they’re healthy. They give a natural gradient that feels almost like a sunset in water. If you want a pop of boldness, add the orange‑blushed brain coral; it’s like a splash of gouache on a canvas. Mixing those will let the palette move from cool to warm, and the real‑time footage can sync the light changes to the visitors’ footsteps, so the reef really breathes.