Art Basel Hong Kong is one of the largest art fairs in Asia. It serves as a platform for showcasing some of the best artists from around the world. 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, she submitted artworks centered on her experiences of the West Philippine Sea territorial dispute and her encounters with aquatic life. After all, the artist has had firsthand experience with underwater creatures, having been a scuba diver since the young age of 12. In these four pieces, Josephine invites viewers to see how these disputed waters are more than just territories to claim, but also home to vulnerable ecosystems.

In “Waterworks,” we immediately notice how colorful the underwater creatures are, rendered in vivid tones. Upon closer inspection, we see a bandolier of bullet casings swirling around and dividing the animal life—perhaps 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.” Sea creatures roam freely, exploring their surroundings, each engaged in its own activities. A jellyfish appears to capture a sturgeon, plankton drift through the scene, and other sea creatures move through a swirl of controlled chaos—echoing the tensions in contested seas as various nations navigate and assert their claims.

Finally, in “Fins and Verdicts,” we see an underwater courtroom unfold. A fish symbolizing Lady Justice is depicted searching for her sword and scales. In the background, a judge in full attire listens as the case is presented. Rather than calming blue ocean hues, the scene is dominated by a striking orange, perhaps reflecting the intensity of legal disputes. Parts of the background feel murky, suggesting the complexities and obscurities within these conflicts.

For Josephine, these underwater creatures mirror human political tensions and disputes. “Lacking the sophistication and the language of humans, they present play-like scenes,” the artist explains. “Shrimps construct an underwater wall, crabs and lobsters capture plankton, and a nudibranch presides over a courthouse. In the irony of their crude mimicry, they pose a question about the necessity and justification of such human actions.”

Josephine has showcased her works in international exhibitions across institutions such as the London Biennale, Cairo Biennale, and Venice Biennale. She is currently the only female Filipino nominee for this year’s Sovereign Asian Art Prize, alongside fellow Filipino artists Alvin Zafra and Joey Cobcobo.