Silver Robots in Jakarta: When a Mother and Son Learn to Glide to Survival
Picture a street corner in Jakarta, bright sun on the asphalt, and two silver‑clad figures—Puryanti, a 29‑year‑old single mom, and her five‑year‑old son—moving in sync like a pair of mechanical toys. They’re not chasing high‑tech careers—instead, they’re using a neon‑gloss trick to tattle for tips from the hurried commuters. Their shimmering costumes, painted with a mix of screen‑printing powder and cooking oil, turn everyday sidewalks into a stage where the duo can earn the small coin that keeps their rent afloat.
What the “Silver People” Are All About
- “Silver people” or manusia silver are performers who use reflective paint to stand out.
- They often dress up in robotic poses to catch a passerby’s eye—and the wallet.
- Their acts began to surface after Indonesia’s bustling economy took a hit from the pandemic, leaving many informal‑sector workers scrambling for a living.
life Behind the Glimmer
Puryanti tells us that after three months heckling the crowd, she’s started to see a thin line between “donation” and “scattered generosity.” “Some people hand over coins, some don’t, but a few do enough,” she says with a chuckle. “Yesterday, I made about 70,000 rupiah (roughly S$6.70). That’s just enough to keep our apartment tidy and the lights on.
Her acting routine is all handmade homework: a homemade paint concoction composed of screen‑printing powders and the good stuff—cooking oil. “The silver paint doesn’t sting or hurt. I’m not ashamed to do this; it’s for my kids.”
The Spike in Poverty
The pandemic hit Indonesia hard: a 2.2% contraction in the last quarter of 2022. During the downturn, almost 26 million folks fell into poverty—an increase of 1.63 million from the pre‑pandemic period. The little silver act by Puryanti is a micro‑glimpse of how many people are turning to ingenuity to get by.
Future Dreams and the Hurdle of Cash
While the police are cool with her performing as long as she wears a mask, Puryanti’s eyes are on a bigger horizon: a small shop of her own. “I want to open a place that sells things that brighten everyone’s day, but I don’t have the money yet.” That ambition is the heart of this story—someone who used a silver trick to survive, not to stay there.
So the next time you’re stuck in traffic at Jakarta’s crowded intersection, might you notice a silver‑clad robot duo? Perhaps you’ll pass out a coin, or maybe you’ll be inspired to pursue your own glittering dream.
Make sure to stay informed about health updates—your steps, your coins, your ambition.
