The opium of the people

The Russian president Putin is holding his birthday gift: A puppy he got from the president of Turkmenistan for his 65th birthday. Behind the Russian president we can see his biggest supporters in the Russian society: On the left three generals, representing the supporters of a more “aggressive” foreign policy. In the right we see two happy grandmothers, representing the people who remember the Soviet Union and its strength in a nostalgic way. The whole picture is painted on chocolate wrapping papers from the famous Russian Brand “мак” with its iconic picture of a poppy flower – the main ingredient of opium.
Lenin once said: “Religion is the opium of the people” – In this painting Putin reminds the viewer of Maria holding Baby Jesus. Looks like the Russian people found a new kind of opium.