JOE IS DYING

There's this thing that i've noticed being predominantly used in Indonesian text. Not formally, only colloquially. It is the "...?" used after a question, rather than a direct question mark. I assume that it is used to soften the tone of the question. You know, for politeness sake. For example, "Are you alright...?" seems to sound softer in comparison to the straight forward, "Are you alright?" That hesitant pause before the question mark gives a less threatening air, as if it gives you more space to let out an honest answer. I don't get it. Or do I...?

-- Now, for another topic away from myself.. I was browsing though Hendra Gunawan's paintings online when I spotted something that isn't quite the colorful, flowy figured women of Hendra. The image was mostly black with confident strokes of highlights making up harsh lighted forms of 3 surgeons, surrounded by a number of nuns and scholarly men (if not the parliament) focused on a man's laid body. I thought to myself, I've never seen something so contemporary, so striking, and so filled with multinational references, coming out of an Indonesian artist -- even when this was my first time trying to look up indonesian art. So, there I was, intrigued by a new complex name; Ariadhitya Pramuhendra. What a javanese, arian name, I thought to myself. As further research shows, this guy graduated from ITB's printmaking major in 2007. A 29 year old young artist with a global caliber. Honored with "Artist of the Year- 2011" by  Soemardja Art Award , an honorable me...