Mid-century has fascinated me for years. In fashion, it is Dior’s New Look, Ivy League dressing and the style of Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Lin Dai. In design, I am drawn to the same period, from Charlotte Perriand to furniture and interiors that still look remarkably contemporary today.
The exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam introduced me to Kho Liang Ie and the many disciplines within his work. Artifort is a major name in Dutch design, but I had no idea how extensive his contribution had been. As its aesthetic adviser, Kho was involved in the wider presentation of the company.
Kho Liang Ie: Mid-Century Modernist, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Kho was born in Magelang, Indonesia, in 1927, into a Chinese family that had lived on Java for generations. He came to the Netherlands in 1949 and trained in interior architecture at the Instituut voor Kunstnijverheidsonderwijs, now the Gerrit Rietveld Academie. I love the abundance in his work: furniture, interiors, graphics, exhibitions and art direction.
Installation view, Kho Liang Ie: Mid-Century Modernist
In 1963, Kho was commissioned to work on the interior of the new Schiphol Airport. He thought about the traveller as much as the space itself. Knowing that airports can make people nervous, he used restrained colours, warm materials and clear sightlines. Together with graphic designer Benno Wissing, he worked on the distinctive yellow wayfinding that became part of Schiphol’s visual identity.
Kho Liang Ie’s Schiphol interiors and design studies, including his work on wayfinding with Benno Wissing
Co-creation is everywhere in Kho’s work. From 1956 to 1959, he shared a design partnership with graphic designer Wim Crouwel, creating exhibition stands and museum presentations together. At Artifort, Kho combined his role as aesthetic adviser with his own designs. He brought international designers to the Dutch furniture manufacturer, including Pierre Paulin, and designed furniture with Geoffrey Harcourt.
Schiphol, Artifort, Mosa and all those creative connections come together at the Stedelijk. What a great tribute to Kho Liang Ie.
Images taken by author, courtesy of Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Kho Liang Ie: Mid-Century Modernist is at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam until 18 October 2026
