Rubem Valentim: Construções Afro-Atlânticas (Afro-Atlantic Constructions)

The exhibition gathers 90 works by painter, sculptor and printmaker Rubem Valentim (Salvador, 1922–São Paulo, 1991), which constituted a fundamental figure in Brazilian art and its relations with European culture. The exhibition spans the period in Valentim’s career from 1950s up until 1978, when is most productive phase ended, encompassing the different steps of his artistic research.

From 1950 on, he begun to experiment with a visual language based on geometric elements and compositions, in order to reconfigure traditional Afro-Brazilian symbols, emblems and references. Valentim’s signature style transformed artistic codes from European culture, that used to dominate Brazilian artistic production of the 50s and 60s, merging it with African references and Afro-Brazilian religious imaginary. The exhibition offers a global approach to Valentim’s work, highlighting political, religious and syncretic aspects.