Vaniconas №1 (2025) Original Oil Painting by Ellaya Yefymova

I think religion has lost most of its good functions nowadays…
They’ve been replaced by laws, science, psychology, and politics.
What’s left?
Mass control and making money…

But there’s still one ambiguous role religion plays: denying death as the end.

On one hand, this softens the fear of dying. Almost every religion promises an afterlife (heaven, reincarnation, or something beyond). It’s easier to live when you believe it’s not over.

But here’s the trap: this illusion prevents people from fully valuing life.
It makes them think they’ll get another chance… or that something “better” is waiting elsewhere.

I don’t claim to know what really happens after death.
But I’m sure of one thing: nobody will regret living as if this life were the only one.

Another point is that I don’t think people need religion in order to have faith in their lives.

Materials used:

Oil, acrylics, gold leaf

Details:

• Oil painting on Canvas
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 40 x 50 x 3.5cm
• Ready to hang
• Signed on the front
• Style: Surrealistic
• Subject: People and portraits

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