Austrian Art Porn

(Vienna, Austria) Stating that they only want to satirize the European Union, a group of artists from throughout Europe has produced a series of posters in a campaign against globalization. Not all Europeans are amused.

From Spiegel Online:

Just as Austria takes over the rotating presidency of the European Union, a dispute about good taste is raging in the country's capital. The art campaign "euroPART" has landed the group, named "25 peaces" and led by former Austrian Broadcasting Corporation culture boss Wolfgang Lorenz and federal theater boss Georg Springer, in hot water.

A topless woman sprawls on a bed with her legs spread wearing blue panties decorated with the EU's symbol, a circle of yellow stars. A few streets away three individuals are hard at it: their unambiguous, naked poses show them indulging in a menage a trois. The participants wear masks of France's President Chirac, the British Queen and US President George W. Bush. The images have caused an uproar among the Viennese since they were put up on Dec. 27.

 
Austrian Porn Art
Some critics of the campaign are outraged, with one tabloid newspaper claiming that "wild sex posters" have been produced. Insiders did not expect such a negative response and believe it demonstrates that the general public is not familiar with the displays in art museums and galleries. However, when the art is taken out in the streets, conservative people are offended.

I tend to agree. As long as pornographic and offensive material is kept behind doors in museums and art galleries, people usually don't complain. However, when those same images are plastered on billboards, the sensibilities of the entire population are attacked.

Even Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel has gotten grief about the contemporary art project. It's alleged that the project was funded partly by 500,000 euros from the Austrian taxpayer. Schussel denies that any taxpayer funds were used to finance the art but clearly admits that the "boundaries of acceptable taste had been overstepped and that he knew nothing about the content of the campaign."