Exhibition 'Stairway to..?' in Kunsthal KAdE
In the spring of 2026, Kunsthal KAdE Amersfoort will host an exhibition on ladders and stairs featuring more than 40 artists.
Ladders and stairs are made for one purpose: to bridge heights. Their simple shapes and clean lines make them not only practical, but often visually appealing as well. They literally take us up and down, but they also symbolise growth, change and ambition. Sometimes we climb calmly, step by step, sometimes we stumble, and sometimes we look for a way out.
Ladders are more than a tool or a metaphor for success. They tell the story of transformation and of the human quest between the earthly and the higher. They often recur in myths and stories, such as Jacob's ladder, which represents the connection between man and the divine. The social ladder shows how people try to get ahead, often with bumps and opportunities along the way. We are also familiar with the escalation and de-escalation ladders, which illustrate how small steps in the right or wrong direction can have major consequences for relationships and conflicts. And then there is the escape ladder: a symbol of hope and a new beginning.
In this family exhibition, Stairway to...? featuring more than 40 artists, we see how ladders and stairs have continued to inspire artists and designers for generations. The exhibition was inspired by Armando's war memorial, “The Ladder”.
