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Original Batiks by
Richard Kimbo

Inside African Art does feature Batiks! Not the common boring batiks, but large, colorful batiks that add color and fascination to any wall. Choose from our new selection of large batiks and see them dominate or liven up any wall space.

The artist/creator of batiks is a colorful character himself:  Richard Kimbo can be found peddling his wares on the street somewhere between the Sarit Center and The Mall, in the suburb of Westlands just outside of Nairobi, Kenya. But he's only there Sunday through Wednesday, the rest of the time he is busy making his batiks from orders given to him through the week. All one has to do while waiting in the traffic jam is to stick their head out the window and start yelling, "Kimboooo...", and he will appear!

One day I really challenged Kimbo by asking him for a custom design. I made a simple sketch as a guide and left the rest up to him. The goal was to incorporate a 'muzungu' (white person, or European) - me, into one of his batiks. This really threw Kimbo as he had never considered customizing a batik, let alone adding a muzungu! Nevertheless, as you can see at right, he not only lived-up to the challenge, but he elaborated on the idea - adding accompanying characters (begging invalid child?) and a good-will handshake to the mix - and, he made it vertical!

Each of Kimbo's batiks are handmade using his own creative flair and designs. They are reasonably priced and definitely one of a kind!

Click here to learn more about Batiks

6 October 2009 - Update: We are out of batiks! But I am in touch with Kimbo and more are on the way!

4 November 2007 - Update: I have just met with Kimbo and purchased five new batiks. Kimbo is doing great and we are always happy to greet each other. I felt very honored when Kimbo told me recently that I had officially passed someone in Germany as being the person who has bought the most batiks from him in the course of his hawking in Nairobi. He figured it was around 250 batiks over 16 years!

I have to stipule that all of these batiks were not for the website, many we for the social enterprise that I worked for for a few years, and have been associated with for more than a decade. Kimbo has been making many batiks for KickStart, who have been giving them as gifts for donations. If you are interested in how KickStart is changing the lives of the poorest of the poor, as well as entire economies, please visit their website. www.kickstart.org

Title: Busy Market 1 Dimensions: 41" x 33" Medium: Textile, dye, wax Price: $165 Sold! 5th Feb 2009 - Thanks!	Title: Exodus 1 Dimensions: 41" x 33" Medium: Textile, dye, wax Price: $165 Sold! 5th July 2009 - Thanks!	Title: Busy Market 2 Dimensions: 41" x 33" Medium: Textile, dye, wax Price: $165 Sold! 4 Dec '08 and heading to Florida!
Title: Exodus 2 Dimensions: 41" x 33" Medium: Textile, dye, wax Price: $165 Sold! 6 Oct '09 - and on the way to Singapore!	Title: Busy Market 3 Dimensions: 41" x 33" Medium: Textile, dye, wax Price: $165 Sold! 17 Mar '09 - And on the way to Switzerland!	Kimbo and me in front of the petrol station where he has been hawking batiks for over 35 years. This is batik Exodus 1.

Update: 27 June 2007 - It's been a long time since I have added some batiks by Kimbo, and I have had these hidden away for some time! The good news is that Kimbo has been commissioned by KickStart International to produce 60+ batiks, so he is very busy! That pleases me because as a hawker on the streets of Nairobi for over 30 years, Kimbo is dedicated to his craft and has paid his dues! Here are three more batiks by 'The Man', Richard Kimbo! 
 

Title: Dimensions: 44" x 37" Medium: Textile, dye, wax Price: $165 Sold! 12 Aug '07 Thanks Tricia!	Title: Market Scene Dimensions: 41" x 33" Medium: Textile, dye, wax Price: $165 Not available - Inventory Glitch	Title: Exodus Dimensions: 43" x 37" Medium: Textile, dye, wax Price: $165 Not available - Inventory Glitch

6 October 2006-This page has sold out!  But don't worry, we're getting more batiks from Kimbo!  If you are interested in a custom size or design, let me know!

Title: B1 Dimensions: 37.5" x 36" Medium: Textile, dye, wax SOLD!  11 October 2006-To Washington State.  Thanks!	Title: B2 Dimensions: 24.5" x 37.5" Medium: Textile, dye, wax SOLD!  11 October 2006-To Washington State.  Thanks!	SOLD!  11 October 2006-To Washington State.  Thanks!
Title: B4 Dimensions: 53" x 27.5" Medium: Textile, dye, wax SOLD!  11 October 2006-To Washington State.  Thanks!	Title: B5 Dimensions: 78.5" x 37.5" Medium: Textile, dye, wax SOLD!  17 July 2006-To a new visitor in Canada!  Thanks!  Visit us again!	Title: Water's Journey Dimensions: 17" x 29" Medium: Textile, dye, wax SOLD!  21 December '05-To a visitor in Spain!  Thanks!
The Kimbo batiks below have been sold - but are still wonderful to admire!

Thank you to those who have supported Inside African Art and Richard Kimbo!

If you are interested in any of these batiks,
Write down the Artist's Name, Batik's Title, Cost, and

The Meaning of the Word Batik

Where does the word 'batik' come from? There are several theories on the origins of this craft. The word "batik" is Indonesian in origin. The word batik also occurs in Javanese as Ambatik, which actually means drawing and writing. Batik has evolved around the principle that wax and water repel each other, therefore an area of fabric that has been covered with wax is unable to accept dye. The Indonesian word "tik", meaning a drop (referring to the small drops of hot wax), shows how the word batik was derived.

The History of Batik

Batik is a very ancient craft dating back at least two thousand years. Batik has been continuously practice in Java for centuries. It was around 1500 that travelers first brought back tales of highly artistic batik fabric on which people worked for months on end. At the close of the last century the technique was introduced to European arts and crafts. Batik has even more enthusiasts today because it produces excellent effects.

It can be defined as a method of applying a colored design on to textiles by waxing those parts that are not to be dyed. Evidence of its practice has been discovered in most Eastern and Middle Eastern countries including India, China, Japan, Persia and Egypt, but although its actual source is unknown, it was on the island of Java in Indonesia that the art reached its peak development. Through the centuries Javanese craftsmen have perfected the art, reflecting the culture and religion of their  country in the richness of colors and the detail of the designs on their fabrics. These traditional designs have been passed on from one generation to another and are mainly based on the flora and fauna of their surroundings and this form of expression adapts to society now as easily as it did many years ago. Clothes worked in batik are represented frequently in classical literature of Java. Any mention of magnificent dress always signified batik work. Batik apparel was formerly the clothing of aristocracy. The peasant woman wove the cloth but the lady did the batik. She had time to spare and hers was the gentle hand needed for the work, while the servants attended to the household duties.

Just as the Japanese lady concocts artistic floral arrangements so, even today, the educated Javanese does batik on fabrics, and in this she develops a highly artistic sense. The stylized designs include the native flora, butterflies and birds of paradise. Moreover, these ladies are able to work their individual designs harmoniously into an extensive piece of work.