Topnut aka Vinson Phua is a Singapore-based contemporary visual artist. His artistic journey began at the National Technological University, School of Art Design Media, inspired by the vibrant cultural tapestry of his surroundings where he pursued a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Photography and Digital Imaging. He has honed skills in various mediums, including painting and digital art.
His work explores themes of identity, memory, and the interplay between the analogue and technology. His pieces are characterised by a striking use of colour and texture, inviting viewers to engage with the deeper narratives behind each creation, as well as seeking to provoke thought and dialogue about the complexities of contemporary life.
Vinson’s work has been featured in galleries local and abroad, most recently the A7 Metaverse Exhibition 2024, Tokyo University of the Arts, earning him accolades like the 2nd Runner up at NTU International Photography Awards 2017 and 1st place in the TrendMicro Photography Competition 2012.
He is also passionate about community engagement and education, taking part in community exhibitions like Placeholders Art Festival in 2017. By contributing to and learning from the community, he believes in the power of art to inspire change and foster connections among diverse communities.
Following the completion of his Master of Fine Arts at LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, his practice explores the ephemerality of memory and positions personal archiving as an artistic practice that fills gaps with constructed information. His current body of work investigates material transformation through photography, crystallisation, and geological processes, considering how time, change, and decay shape our recollection of place and experience.
Working across analogue and digital photography, sculptural installations, and experimental processes, he continues to test and stretch the boundaries of the photographic medium.
