The Ocampo Paintings

Three comments on “Local Traditions Alive in FIAR Exhibit” (Feb. 6), where William Wilson notes: “Similar works by (Manuel) Ocampo caused a fuss at Germany’s most recent Documenta. They appeared as conscious provocation, which is not a good tactic.”

* The choice of paintings that Ocampo sent was made by Documenta curator Bart de Baer.

* De Baer was so taken by one Documenta painting that he tried to buy it from me.

* Of the five paintings selected for Documenta, four were exhibited in a Museum of Contemporary Art exhibit. The Documenta works were painted for the MOCA show, where they caused no controversy. Rather, they were praised, which is why we supported De Baer’s decision to exhibit them.

FRED HOFFMAN

Salander O’Reilly

Galleries Inc. / Fred Hoffman

Beverly Hills