There's an exhibition called "Legacies of Power" on at Taman Budaya at the moment. It's well worth seeing, and features an array of really original ideas.

But it was also profoundly depressing. The dolls above are the "Goni Cabinet". Some are scary; some are ridiculous; some are sweet. But they are, at the end of the day, stuffed gunny sacks... None commands respect.



This outdoor tableau sets the tone for the atmosphere of disillusionment that is palpable throughout the rest of the extensive exhibition.

Political parties: shallow. Strong leaders: longed for. The little people: neglected. Lust for power: everywhere. Speech: vapid. Indonesia: manipulated.





I sincerely hope that whoever gets elected in the upcoming vote can help Indonesians reconnect with, and rejoice in, their democratic gains.

In evolutionary political terms, 1998 is just yesterday. In the midst of understandable frustration and cynicism, it is worth remembering that a lot of progress has been made in a very short time.

Democracy is never easy. Even old democracies struggle to make it work. For younger ones, the challenges are daunting.

But it's worth protecting. The alternatives are so much worse, after all. And those longed-for superheroes are really only for fairy stories...