ART = POWER: Cartoons
Frog memes influence elections, and Trump has been censoring museums from day one. For centuries, activists and world leaders have immediately turned to images when a conflict arises. Nowadays, we also unknowingly see thousands of images every day. That's why it's high time to investigate: how does the political influence of images really work?

In a lively show, cartoonist Jip van den Toorn, illustrator Fadi Nadrous, and conflict scholar Niels Terpstra will discuss this topic. Inspired by Jip van den Toorn's work at Entree van Noord, a 30-meter-long outdoor wall at Tolhuistuin featuring her cartoons, this edition focuses on the role of cartoons and illustrations in international conflict.

What dilemmas does a cartoonist face? How do you handle emotionally charged symbols? And how does a cartoon influence political processes behind the scenes? In KUNST = POWER, art and politics sit down together to answer these questions. You'll learn how images subconsciously influence you every day, but also how you can use them to advance what you find important. A vibrant show where images take center stage, a thought-provoking conversation, and surprising interludes by art historian Isabel Heijne.

The evening will be hosted by Mandy Emadi , presenter and creator at BNNVARA, 3FM, and VPRO. She grew up in the Achterhoek region in a Christian Iranian-Dutch family and previously worked in youth care—a background that shapes her perspective as a creator. Under her guidance, the following will be in conversation:

Jip van den Toorn
Jip van den Toorn is a Dutch cartoonist known for her sharp and humorous work. She creates a cartoon twice a week for De Volkskrant and appears weekly in the Flemish newspaper De Morgen. In 2022, she published her first book, "Crisis," with Podium publishers. This was followed in 2025 by "Hoe vindt je zelf dat het gaan?" (How did you find it going?), a year-long cartoon review. In addition to her work for newspapers and magazines such as De VPRO-gids, Het Parool, and Vrij Nederland, she was a writer and editor for the satirical TV program Dit was het Nieuws (This Was the News) from 2019 to 2024. She has won several awards, including the 2022 Inktspot Prize for best political cartoon, making her the first woman and youngest winner in the award's history. In 2024, she participated in "Wie is de Mol" (Who is the Mole) and is a sidekick on the talk show "Sophie and Jeroen." Jip lives alternately in Amsterdam and Berlin.

Fadi Nadrous
Fadi Nadrous is an illustrator and designer working for the daily newspaper Trouw. He grew up in Damascus, Syria, where he realized the importance of challenging norms and beliefs. He studied graphic art, convinced that powerful images can inspire change. In the Netherlands, he earned his master's degree from the Utrecht School of the Arts. In his work, he creates thought-provoking illustrations that stimulate critical thinking.

Niels Terpstra
Niels Terpstra is a conflict and peace scholar affiliated with Radboud University Nijmegen. He is an expert on political violence, war, and peace processes. Terpstra researches and explains how conflicts escalate and deescalate, how political violence arises, and why some wars end while others drag on for decades.