The war in Chechnya is dragging on after twelve years and 18 year old drafted soldiers are still dying on a daily basis; Russian pensioners are saving money by not buying toilet paper, and 80% of the population is barely making the living. But it's not the same in Moscow. The hot new trend of the season is "airbrushing". Blue lights and sirens are getting old, or are not important enough, and all the house-wives and kids of oil and gas executives are rushing into the offices of the new car painting shops.

"Salvador Dali is boring" -- says Konstantin, executive of one of the airbrushing companies -- "everyone wants his painting".

Airbrushing is getting to the point of not just plain showing off but of displaying your social status. In my opinion it goes along with the golden elevators that take cars to your apartment, outrageous and ridiculous. These pictures should speak for themselves. Enjoy!