A collaborative exploration of beauty, coral, and machine imagination.
Coral Cortex
At XOlink, we’re always exploring the space between imagination and reality—and Coral Cortex is a reflection of that ethos.
The concept emerged from conversations with Tokyo based avant garde hairstylist Nari, whose lifelong connection to the ocean forms the emotional core of this work. Raised in a quiet seaside town in Japan, Nari spent his childhood immersed in the water studying shells and fish, swimming for hours, and seeing the ocean not just as nature, but as home. Years later, a visit to Kerama in Okinawa, one of the clearest and most pristine marine regions in Japan, sparked a deep fascination with coral. Its textures, movement, and living geometry made a lasting impression.
“As a hairdresser, I always wondered if coral and hair could come together,” Nari explains.
“And with Toby and XOlink, we were able to make it happen.”
The result is Coral Cortex, a digital series that explores the possibilities of merging human beauty with natural marine life. Using generative tools like Luma AI and Kling 2.0, we created flowing visuals of hair transforming into coral, a seamless organic fusion that feels both surreal and grounded. Kling’s ability to generate hyper-realistic, fluid motion allowed us to depict underwater movement with astonishing grace: strands bloom like soft coral, swaying gently as if caught in a current. The play of sunlight filtering through the virtual water adds a sense of emotional weight and otherworldly calm.
Unlike traditional shoots that rely on physical sets, costumes, lighting, and travel, this collaboration took place entirely in the digital realm. The result? A lower carbon footprint, greater creative freedom, and the ability to experiment with visual ideas that would be nearly impossible in real life. We believe this is a powerful example of how AI can be used not just as a tool, but as a partner in the creative process—offering new ways of seeing, dreaming, and designing.
To complete the piece, we worked with ambient music artist Satellite (@solesatellite), whose haunting, spacious compositions evoke the feeling of submersion. The score built around a sense of breath, tide, and quiet reverence deepens the immersion and enhances the dreamlike atmosphere of the series.
Coral Cortex is more than a single project; it is the beginning of a broader conversation between disciplines. It asks what it means to create in the age of machine vision and reminds us that our memories of nature, childhood, and beauty can all be transformed into something new through collaboration.
Explore the ongoing Coral Cortex series now on XOlink,
nari, and satellite.