Phoebe Boswell’s underwater scenes—most notably her works in the exhibition Like Hydrogen Like Oxygen—depict intimate figures submerged and suspended in water, presented as entwined, ethereal forms within a watery embrace. These compositions go beyond aesthetics, using water as a profound symbol of recovery, liberation, and healing—while also acknowledging its histories of trauma and violence—as seen through a Black diasporic lens.

One of the most fascinating aspects of how Boswell created these works involves an actual underwater studio. She discovered that about 95% of Black British adults do not swim, so she rented this studio, inviting participants to bring loved ones into the water. What emerged was a spontaneous choreography of fear, support, courage, and nurture—families, siblings, and couples helping each other feel safe and reclaiming the water as a site of healing.