Photos: Indonesia’s 'Silvermen' Beg for SurvivalNEWS | 15 May 2025In Jakarta, to make ends meet, some people have chosen to paint themselves silver, seeking donations from passing motorists.
Yasuyoshi Chiba, a photojournalist with AFP, recently spent a rainy day in Jakarta with three men who had coated themselves in metallic paint, becoming “manusia silver,” or silvermen, seeking donations from passersby. Rising prices and growing levels of unemployment have resulted in a recent rise in begging across Jakarta. The group followed here say that on a good day, they can earn as much as 200,000 rupiah ($12). After that, they return home, scrub off the irritating paint, and start again the next day.
Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP / Getty This photo taken on April 1, 2025, shows street performer Ari Munandar, with his body painted silver, posing for tips in the rain at an intersection in Jakarta.
Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP / Getty Ari Munandar prepares silver paint to apply to his body on April 7, 2025, in Jakarta.
Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP / Getty Street performer Keris Munandar paints his body silver before leaving.
Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP / Getty Keris Munandar, his brother Ari Munandar, and their neighbor Riyan Ahmad Fazriyansah walk to the main road to hitch a ride on April 7, 2025.
Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP / Getty Ari Munandar, Riyan Ahmad Fazriyansah, and Keris Munandar hitch a ride on the back of a container truck to reach an intersection in Jakarta.
Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP / Getty Ari Munandar, covered in silver paint, crosses a road in Jakarta. Ari admitted to embarrassment and said he was ashamed of making money this way, and that he was hoping for a better job soon, and a better future for his daughter.
Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP / Getty Keris Munandar poses for tips in the rain at an intersection as cars stop at a traffic light in Jakarta on April 1, 2025.
Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP / Getty Ari Munandar holds out a bucket to receive a tip.
Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP / Getty Ari Munandar reacts as some of the silver paint gets into his eyes while he waits for the traffic light to turn red before performing.
Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP / Getty This photo shows the street performers Riyan Ahmad Fazriyansah, Ari Munandar, and Keris Munandar posing after their performance at an intersection in Jakarta on April 1, 2025.
Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP / Getty Ari Munandar receives a tip in the rain at an intersection in Jakarta.
Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP / Getty The trio of street performers count their tips on the way home, while hitching a ride in a three-wheeled tuk-tuk, after spending the day performing at an intersection.
Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP / Getty Keris Munandar poses as he arrives home on April 1, 2025.Author: Alan Taylor. Source
