• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • Worldwide shipping
  • Login
  • English
  • German

Urban Change Lab

Your idea - ethically custom made

  • I would like…
  • How it works
    • FAQ
    • Areas of expertise
      • Custom made fashion
      • Custom made interior
      • Commissioned art
  • Who we are
    • Blog
    • Contact
Looking back - our first order

Looking back – Our first order

Jochen Baumeisterblog by Jochen Baumeister

  • The Process
  • The Costs
  • Get yours
  • Buddha
  • Buddha inspiration
  • African Buddha
  • Naftal Mageto Momanyi

This sculpture of a “Female African Buddha” is based on an idea from John from Starnberg, Germany. John had seen a sculpture of a buddha at a friends house and wanted something related as he has an interest in Buddhism. His concrete idea was “I want a statue of a Buddha made of carved hardwood. It should be about 90 cm tall and draw on a set of pictures I will provide. All Buddha’s I know are male and Asian. This one can be female and African, BUT must still capture essential facial expressions and hand gestures.“. John was in fact our first real client after some test drives of the concept. I got to know John when I was looking for an investor for my first StartUp almost twenty years ago. He was Partner at an investment firm at that time. I gave John a call to ask him what he thinks about the concept of the Urban Change Lab. While doing my elevator speech he responded: „I was looking for an artist to create something for me“. That is how this project started…

  • Looking back - our first order
  • Naftal Mageto Momanyi

When I first met Naftal (one of our lead Artists on Urban Change Lab and the artist behind the sculpture shown yesterday) in Nairobi we touched on so many topics. Naftal is as talkative as me. We discussed the relation between arts and politics, what makes art to art, his experience as a lecturer in arts at university. But what still stuck in my mind after years is when I asked him about his kids. Naftal responded that he has 7 Kids. When I asked him if one of them is into arts as well he responded “All of them…”. Naftal drove me nuts in his first project, I could not understand at that time that a sculpture needs drying time while making. So it took almost 6 months to finish it. John, the client was and still is extremely happy about it. While Naftal was realizing the first Female African Buddha based on the idea of John from Starnberg people passed by and got an interest. Two wanted to buy it immediately but Naftal insisted that it’s already sold. In the course of the year he sold two other Female African Buddhas locally in Nairobi and made his living for his first year on Urban Change Lab out of it. Naftal, you are an amazing Artist!

  • African Buddha
  • OLIVE-3-FRONT-VIEW-BUDDHA-ROUGH-SKETCH-2-2
  • BUDDHA HANDS LEG STUDY

More details on the Project page Buddha sculpture (female and African)

Category: blog Back to top
Jochen Baumeister

About Jochen Baumeister

Jochen is the founder of the Urban Change Lab. He is a serial entrepreneur and consultant with more than 20 years experience. He has an degree in urban planning from the University of Dortmund. Furthermore he in an educated craftsman in electronics. This contributes to a better understanding of the challenges the local artisans working for us face. Jochen is married to a Kenyan medical doctor who brought him closer to Kenyan society.

Custom made for our clients

custom made leather card case

custom made leather card case

custom made drawer insert 390 x 483 mm

custom made drawer insert 390 x 483 mm

custom made inserts for cutlery drawers

custom made inserts for cutlery drawers

custom made white bed

custom made white bed

custom made shorts-suit in arctic blue

custom made shorts-suit in arctic blue

custom made shoulder bag: green fabric with dog paw print

custom made shoulder bag: green fabric with dog paw print

The Urban Change Lab helps you to realize your ideas for hand-crafted items. Your concept will be crafted by an artisan in Africa (e.g. Kenya, Ghana or Rwanda). If you like, you can establish contact with your artisan in the process. A positive side-effect of Read More…

  • Artisan registration
  • Become an affiliate
  • Become a Mentor
  • Join us!
  • Press
  • Buy a gift card
  • Consulting
  • About us
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Imprint

Get the latest news and more inspiration straight to your inbox.

Sign up to our newsletter

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • English
  • German

↑ back

© 2023 · Urban Change Lab GmbH