Life on the Ocean Floor is a generative artwork that simulates the growth and diversity of an underwater coral ecosystem. Each time the program runs, a unique reef scene is generated through randomness. Coral colonies grow, branching and spreading in unpredictable ways, while subtle variations in color, lighting, and composition ensure that no two reefs are identical. The piece includes multiple coral forms, such as branching corals, fan corals, and brain-like structures, which are distributed across the virtual seafloor. There are certain rare elements that occasionally show up, including giant glowing coral formations, schools of fish, and subtle bioluminescent particles drifting through the water. The background ocean gradient also changes with each generation, mimicking variations in underwater light and depth. Together, these elements create a digital ecosystem that feels organic, alive, and constantly evolving. Each generated image represents a single moment within an infinite set of possible reefs. Medium: This artwork was created using generative p5.js code.The development process incorporated AI creative coding tools, including the large language modelsChatGPT and juno, which were used to help iterate on code structure, explore generative techniques, and refine the algorithmic behavior of the coral. Prompts were first given to juno to start the art work, then te p5.js code was taken to ChatGPT to further refine it and incorporate new variations in the art, like the small chance of producing rare corals. The final artwork emerges from a combination of human creative direction and computational generation, producing unique outputs through controlled randomness. Artist Bio: Tyler Tautai is a 4th year undergraduate student at UCLA studying psychobiology. He is also entering the field of digital art. His work is inspired by pieces of nature, particularly in marine ecosystems. He experiments with vibe coding generative art to produce artworks that have randomness and variation, resulting in unique pieces of art. In doing so, Tyler investigates how code can simulate organic growth and create unique visual experiences that reflect the unpredictability of the natural world. Artist Statement: My work explores how generative systems can recreate the complexity and unpredictability of natural environments. Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, which inspired this whole project. I was interested in translating that idea into code: using algorithms to mimic how branching structures expand, interact, and form larger systems. In Life on the Ocean Floor, randomness acts as a stand-in for natural variation. Small changes in parameters, like the branch angles, growth depth, color gradients, and spatial placement, allow each reef to develop its own personality. Some scenes are sparse, while others become dense coral forests. Rare visual events, such as glowing giant corals or drifting fish, add moments of surprise that mirror the unpredictability of exploring a real reef. The piece also reflects the relationship between human creativity and machine generation. While I designed the rules that guide the system, the final visual outcome is determined by the algorithm itself. Through generative art, I’m interested in how artists can build systems that produce beauty beyond what could be manually composed.