Named for the magazine Provoke, which sought to break the rules of traditional photography, this exhibition presents the avant-garde tradition that emerged in Tokyo in the 1960s and continued in the 70s and 80s. The exhibition traces Japanese photographers’ responses to their country’s shifting social and political atmosphere. The influence of Provoke photography in Japan continues today. The Provoke Era features work by internationally recognized artists including Masahisa Fukase, Eikoh Hosoe, Daido Moriyama, and Shomei Tomatsu.

The Provoke Era is organized by SFMOMA, and is curated by Sandra S. Phillips, SFMOMA senior curator of photography. The exhibition is made possible by The James Irvine Foundation, Bank of America, and The Japan Foundation.