Art stardom

WHAT is so groundbreaking about Brice Marden’s work [“For Marden, Seeing Is Creating,” Oct. 15]? Not a clue to be found in [Barbara] Isenberg’s self-congratulatory article about a star artist who apparently has the “whole package”: a rags-to-riches career, workshops in exotic locales and the ability to reinvent himself Madonna-style.

Throw in a few celebrity connections and top-curator sound bites, organic painting tools, the mystique of Asian calligraphy and poetry, landscape rocks and the number 6 and, voila, you’ve got great new age marketing.

Incidentally, Marden’s imagery very strongly resembles works by aboriginal Australian artists, like the great late Emily Kame Kngwarreye or the young Abie Loy Kemarre. Both take their inspiration from ancient ceremonial body paint designs (“calligraphy”) and the sacred landscapes (“rocks,” etc.) of their Dreamtime. Both are magnificent (and Sotheby-traded) contemporary artists, but just lack the rock star image that comes in handy for Western art marketing and sales hype.

Please, don’t fall for celebrity-style art reporting. Print more of a global and balanced perspective!

WOLFGANG SCHLINK

Los Angeles