Kho Liang Ie
Mid-Century Modernist
Exhibition — May 14 until Oct 18, 2026
The Stedelijk presents the first major museum retrospective of Kho Liang Ie who, with his designs for furniture and interiors, played a key role in Dutch design from the 1950s to the mid-1970s. Through his poetic approach and unconventional choice of materials, he infused his functionalist designs with an element of playfulness. He also cultivated a large international network and introduced fresh design talent to the Netherlands.
Early success
When Kho Liang Ie passed away in 1975 at the age of 47, he left behind an impressive body of work, including furniture, interiors, and graphic design. He was born in 1927 in Magelang, Indonesia, the country where the Kho family, originally from China, had lived for generations. In 1949, he moved to the Netherlands and studied interior architecture at what would later become the Rietveld Academy. While still a student, he achieved success: his design for a drinks cabinet was published in the prestigious magazine Goed Wonen, and his graduation project for the renovation of a youth hostel was actually carried out. After graduating, Kho worked as a consultant and exhibition maker at the Goed Wonen foundation, and from 1956 to 1959 he worked with Wim Crouwel on designing exhibitions, stands for companies, and posters. This led to their work being featured several times in the renowned international magazine Domus. Kho also designed a lot of furniture during this period. In 1957, he and Wim Crouwel won an important furniture design competition in Cantù, Italy, where six pieces of metal furniture were produced and exhibited.
From Artifort to Schiphol
Kho Liang Ie went on to work for several distinguished companies, including Bruynzeel, Mosa (which has resumed production of his wall tiles), and furniture manufacturers CAR and Artifort. His collaboration with the latter lasted for many years. He not only designed furniture for Artifort (some of which is still in production or has been reintroduced), but also served as an ‘aesthetic consultant’ for all the brand’s products and events – a remarkable step at the time. With his visionary approach, Kho contributed to the development of what were then modern concepts such as open-plan offices, interiors for one-person households and, together with Geoffrey Harcourt, flexible and modular furnishings for small homes.
In 1963, his impressive track record led to a major commission: the design of the new terminal building at Schiphol Airport, which opened four years later. Noting that travellers are often anxious, Kho designed a barrier-free entrance for a streamlined arrival; two discreet steps leading down after passport control instilled a sense of calm, while the balustrade handrails incorporated oak for a warm, natural feel. Unlike the subdued colour scheme, designed to be non-distracting, the characteristic yellow way-finding system was meant to catch the eye.
The exhibition
Kho Liang Ie – Mid-Century Modernist is the first major retrospective of the designer in more than fifty years. Strijkers Studio (Eline Strijkers), conceived a spatial design showcasing over 200 objects and extensive visual material covering all aspects of Kho Liang Ie’s oeuvre, including the presentation of part of the interior of Schiphol Airport, a stand for Artifort and a reconstruction of part of his exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum in 1971. The presentation also spotlights his collaboration with celebrated designers and artists such as Pierre Paulin, Geoffrey Harcourt, and Sheila Hicks. His international network and the art collection that emerged from it are also featured, with work by Ettore Sottsass and Niki de Saint Phalle, among others.
Dig Deeper
Publication
The exhibition catalogue is the first monographic publication since 1986, and is also the first to feature full-colour images, making it clear that colour played a vital role in Kho Liang Ie’s work. The exhibition and book also feature photos of his designs in private homes, highlighting users’ continued appreciation of his work. With texts by Rein Wolfs, Ingeborg de Roode, Jason Falkenburg, Marieke Berkers, Norman Foster, and Eng Bo Kho. Published by Jap Sam Books, Dutch and English edition, 200 pages, €45,-
Credits
Image 1: Kho Liang Ie, sofa 662 (later 680), 1968. Photo: Frans Grummer for Artifort
Image 2: Kho Liang Ie, interior of Schiphol Airport with seating system 720 (designed by Kho for Schiphol and produced by Artifort), 1967. Photo: © Jan Versnel / MAI, 196
Image 3: Kho Liang Ie, stand for Linoleum Krommenie at the Furniture and Interior textiles fair at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, 1965. Photo: © Jan Versnel / MAI
Image 4: Kho Liang Ie, waste bin and ashtrays with the modular seating- and table system 720 for Schiphol, 1965–1966, produced by Interdesign, Egmond, and Artifort, Maastricht. Collection Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Image 5: Kho Liang Ie and Jan Ruigrok, patio chair 505 without armrests and 515 with armrests, 1960, prod. C.A. Ruigrok Industrie N.V. (CAR), Katwijk. Coll. Architecture and the Built Environment Department, TU Delft. Photo: Lex Reitsma
Image 6: Benno Wissing and Kho Liang Ie, wayfinding for Schiphol with the new arrow, 1967, prod. Omniscreen. Lighting box Kho Liang Ie in cooperation with Interdesign. Collection Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, gift of H. Bouchier (Schiphol Group)
Image 7: Kho Liang Ie (attributed), poster with a typeface design, early 1970s. Kho Liang Ie Archive. Photo: Hans Bol
Image 8: Kho Liang Ie, color slide with motives and text (originally drawings and collage), ca. 1970. Kho Liang Ie Archive. Photo: Hans Bol
Image 9: Visualization exhibition design Strijkers Studio, introductory gallery Kho Liang Ie – Mid-Century Modernist. © Strijkers Studio
The exhibition Kho Liang Ie – Mid-Century Modernist is curated by Ingeborg de Roode, in collaboration with Eng Bo Kho.
The exhibition is supported by BPD Cultuurfonds.
The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is supported by:
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