Both ladders and stairs are designed with a clear functional mission: to bridge physical heights. Their simple lines and geometric shapes contribute to their aesthetic appeal. They help us literally up and down, but also figuratively—through growth, change, and ambition. Sometimes we climb steadily, sometimes we stumble, and sometimes we feel the urge to find a way out.
But ladders are more than a tool or a metaphor for success; they tell the story of transformation, of the human journey between the earthly and the higher. They appear in myths and stories, such as Jacob's heavenly ladder, which reflects the connection between man and the divine.
The social ladder shows how people strive for progress, sometimes facing obstacles, sometimes encountering opportunities. The escalation and de-escalation ladders show how small steps in the right or wrong direction can be decisive in relationships and conflicts. The escape ladder may indicate danger, but it also symbolizes hope and a new beginning.
Reason for the exhibition Stairway to..? is the monument The Ladder by Armando, the war memorial that stands near the entrance road to Amersfoort-South.
January 31 - May 10, 2026
Eemplein 77, 3812 EA Amersfoort, Netherlands
Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
