toon

toon

The Toon Project

In September 2022, I took part in a 10-day, 24/7 on-site research project in the Bouwlust en Vrederust neighborhood of The Hague, as part of the IRAP (Interrelational Art Practice) program at Minerva Art Academy (Hanze, Groningen). This neighborhood had been undergoing rapid gentrification, and the project invited direct engagement — through action, communication, and firsthand interaction with local residents.

The research was guided by artists Ruben Abels and Iris Vetter, who were already active in the area with their project TOON. Their ongoing work explored the shifting social dynamics and evolving cultural landscape of the neighborhood, emphasizing contrasts with the rest of the city and the subtle yet powerful impacts of gentrification. Our participation became part of this broader, ongoing investigation.

My contribution to TOON was developed in three phases, each representing a deeper understanding of the neighborhood's transformation:

TOON 1:
I produced a video work—a slow visual journey through the streets closest to residents’ homes. The
footage is layered with audio from two interviews I conducted, forming a 360-degree portrait of the neighborhood as it stood in 2022. This immersive piece captured a fleeting moment just before further gentrification altered the area dramatically.

TOON 2 – Performative Intervention:
Frustrated by the quiet, insidious nature of displacement — often driven by speculation and distant policymaking — I created a
performative chalk intervention throughout the neighborhood. Joined by fellow artists and local children, we made visible marks in shared spaces as a gentle but direct response to the forces reshaping the community.

TOON 3 – Open Archive and Public Engagement:
In the final phase, my focus shifted to
documentation and resistance through visibility. I extensively photographed the area, creating a visual archive of familiar places and perspectives. This archive was made available online, and I designed a one-square-meter QR code linking to it—a mobile protest banner that I carried through the neighborhood.To reintroduce the work locally, I set up a corner table in a busy spot, displaying printed photographs under a bilingual sign: “Take me, I’m yours” (in English and Dutch). The response was powerful. Young people engaged with the QR code, diving into the archive. Older residents stopped by, recognizing locations and sharing personal memories. These spontaneous conversations became part of the artwork—bridging generations and sparking moments of reflection.

The Toon Project
10-Day Site-Specific

Research in Bouwlust en Vrederust, The Hague