Art Basel Hong Kong is one of the largest art fairs in Asia. It acts as a venue for showcasing some of the best artists worldwide. Among those whose works were featured this year was Filipino artist Josephine Turalba. 

This is the second showcase done in partnership with 10 Chancery Lane Gallery by Josephine. For this year, Josephine sent in artworks centering around her experiences regarding the West Philippine Sea territorial dispute and her encounters with aquatic life. After all, Josephine has had firsthand experience with underwater creatures due to her being a scuba diver since the young age of 12. In these four pieces, Josephine wants viewers to see how these disputed waters are more than just territories to lord over, but also home to many vulnerable ecosystems.

In "Waterworks," we notice right away how colorful the underwater creatures are with their vivid tones. Corals and sea critters shine brightly against the cool, blue ocean in the background. Upon closer inspection, we notice a bandolier of bullet casings swirling around and dividing the animal life. Perhaps as a symbol of how aggressive the claims over the waters of the West Philippine Sea have become.

"Polysea" as a title seems like a play on words, alluding to policies. Here, the aquatic environment blooms with life yet again, using bright colors that stand out. Sea creatures roam around freely, exploring their environment, each carried away in their own little activities. You can spot a jellyfish capturing a sturgeon, plankton roaming around, and many other sea creatures making their way in a swirl of controlled chaos. Yet again, similar to the chaos that occurs in the seas above, as various nations scramble around in boats to make their claims. 

Finally, in "Fins and Verdicts," we see an underwater courtroom play out. A fish symbolizing Lady Justice can be seen scrambling around to look for her sword and scale. In the back, we see a judge in full attire listening to the case being laid out. Rather than the calming blue hues of the ocean, we have a bright orange striking the scene, perhaps to show how fiery legal disputes can be. Parts of the background feel murky, indicating the dirt that lies within these battles. 

For Josephine, these underwater creatures mirror human political tensions and disputes. "These creatures act as simple mirrors to human interventions; creating borders, enforcing land ownership, policing populations, and performing the motions of justice," writes Josephine. "Lacking the sophistication and the language of humans, they present play-like scenes. Shrimps construct an underwater wall, crabs and lobsters capture plankton, a nudibranch presides over a courthouse. In the irony of their crude mimicry, they pose a question of the necessity and justification of such human actions.”

Josephine has showcased her works in worldwide exhibits across various institutions like the London Biennale, Cairo Biennale, and Venice Biennale. She is currently the only female Filipino to be nominated in this year's Sovereign Asian Art Prize, alongside fellow artists from the Philippines, Alvin Zafra and Joey Cobcobo.