Pintura 1(Painting 1)

Valentim worked in a geometrically abstract style, yet his compositions also drew on imagery from the Candomblé religion. Within a grid-like framework the artist has placed the abstracted shapes of three attributes associated with Candomblé orixás or deities: the staff of Oxalá, god of the sky and universe, at the left in red; the trident of Exú, the messenger god of communication and way-finding in brown at the top right; and below, the double-headed axe of Xangô, the warrior god of thunder and fire. Some critics have claimed this appropriation of religious symbols was out of context, but for Valentim, the Candomblé references are personal and part of his heritage.