In English, from Britain's Telegraph:

Austria has launched its presidency of the European Union by unveiling posters of naked figures wearing masks resembling the Queen, Jacques Chirac and George W. Bush.

The images, part of a government-funded campaign, have provoked outrage in Vienna even before the country takes over the EU's helm from Britain on Sunday. The naked man and two women are shown in sexual poses together on a roof. The Bush mask is worn by one of the women.

The posters, the fruit of a project called 25 Peaces, will be on display throughout the Austrian capital on 400 billboards until January 24.

It's certainly gotten everyone's attention. I just saw a clip on Euro News of children throwing snowballs at one of the images. The entire collection can be found here (click on "Bildergalerie").

Austria is set to assume the presidency of the EU on January 1, 2006. Part of the furor is because 10% of the art project (costing some 12 million Euros) was funded at taxpayer expense.

It's apparently even upset the normally staid Austrian Chancellor:

Wolfgang Schüssel, the Austrian chancellor, condemned the group sex image as "highly tasteless" and promised to have it removed.

"It has nothing to do with art," he said. "The borders of good taste and reasonableness have been crossed by a long way." Meanwhile, Norbert Darabos, the chairman of the Austrian Socialist party, asked: "Is this style of welcome by the EU presidency suitable? Is it going to solve any of the problems on the agenda?"

The art is on display in rolling billboard-style advertisements throughout the capital Vienna. Quite interesting...

Peace