Provocative Art

“Provocative Art” is the process or product of deliberately and creatively arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions in order to boldly challenge people’s reality as an art form. This is often done as lighthearted banter with the public - highly provocative, nonetheless - that may be predicted to evoke strong emotional responses and deep change on some of the public's beliefs by “stretching their brains”.
It is said that if change is not likely to occur in the moods and neurology of the artist and the viewer, it is not real Provocative Art. Many see Provocative Art as having a very strong sense of purpose, as it is mostly done to specifically create directed and purposeful change on the public's though processes and beliefs.
The term is also used to describe other very different, though intentionally provocative art forms, such as Anti-art and nonsense verse.

Beginning of the Provocative Art movement

"Provocative Art" is an old, general term that, since the beginning of the 21st century, has been mostly used to specifically name the English movement influenced by the works of the american “provocative therapist” Frank Farrelly, especially his intriguing, witty and sometimes straight hilarious publication Provocative Therapy from the 70’s, an actual kind of therapy that creates amazingly rapid shifts in the client’s perception of reality by defying it. The results are very often astonishing and life-changing for the client, while relying on the therapist’s blunt sincerity. That same sense of blatant authenticity is carried to the provocative artists’ life and work.

Farrelly’s book stirred thoughts enough to flip the modus operandi of thousands of psychotherapists upside-down, as well as influencing some successful 'exotic artists' .

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