Jakarta police staged a hunt for silver people (9 photos)

Unearthly, sparkling silver children on the streets of the Indonesian capital attract 100% of attention. Passers-by, and most importantly tourists, who can share a coin or two. But the trouble is, they stand out so much in the crowd that the police notice them from any distance. And then the second act of the show begins - the chase!





There are dozens of them here! And this is just one area

There is no discrimination against people with unusual skin color. Children simply painted with silver paint bring more alms into the house, and for poor families every coin is critical.



Snack, and the boy's eyes are wet

I have already written about monkeys who are dressed up in creepy masks and doll outfits and are trained to beg for alms. But the ingenuity of the impoverished district of Jakarta does not stand still; a couple of years ago, a boom began in the discoloration of one’s own children.





Looks like the Sims, but it's a real pregnant woman

All silver babies are locally called manusia silver. Most often they can be found on busy streets in the evening during a walking hour, near cafes or large transport junctions (stations).

Economics of Silver

Why are children painted? Because children are smaller! They use a lot of paint, which costs money. It’s cynical, but poverty doesn’t allow you to choose.



Mother prepares her son to go out for alms

That's why the police are chasing them for a lot of reasons:

Begging is prohibited

Exploitation of children is prohibited

Paint spoils a child's health

And yet children are painted and sent to the streets, because they simply see no other way out. Therefore, next to the silver boy in the crowd, there will definitely be another child or adult who will monitor the perimeter for the appearance of the police while the child is busy begging for a coin.



Let's go to the department, comrade Statue

Indonesian beggars got the idea from Europe, where living performance statues painted the color of copper and steel became popular. Only there are street performers doing this kind of thing, not beggars. But, as often happens, having gone among the people, art became a craft.



European living statue in Galileo Galilei

Golden boys of yesteryear

In Da Vinci's time, children were also painted in the colors of expensive metals.

The most notorious case was the golden boy from the Da Vinci parade, who was supposed to be the center of the holiday parade. After spending the night painted gold, he died practically in the arms of the shocked artist. At that time, science did not yet know that human skin also breathes, and the reason for the boy’s death was not understood then.



Previously, paint was much more aggressive for the skin

However, his death did not stop the rulers; later, at the court of France, they used to paint the pages who danced at large receptions in the form of golden statues. The skin could not breathe and sweat could not be released, and the child was poisoned with toxins from his own body.



Expecting an influx of tourists

Nothing is known about the deaths of silver children. Perhaps because they do not dye the skin under clothes, and the skin partially breathes. And paints began to be made less toxic.



In night light they look especially unrealistic

Would you give alms to the silver boy?