Costume with a pattern inspired by the work of Athos BULCAO Rio 2016 The Rio Opening Ceremony was bursting with music, celebration and “gambiarra”, the innate Brazilian talent to create something incredible out of almost nothing. Some 250 sheets of aluminium foil were made to ripple to the beat of the bossa nova, like silver reflections on the ocean. They were skilfully folded and unfolded by 1,000 extras, reproducing a motif created by Brazilian artist Athos BULCAO. His work reimagines several founding elements of Brazilian culture: indigenous geometry, African patterns and traditional Portuguese tile design. The Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony was a journey through the history and culture of Brazil. It began with a segment celebrating gambiarra, the Brazilian talent for making something great out of almost nothing. These costumes reproduced a pattern created by Brazilian sculptor and painter Athos Bulcão. Bulcão’s work was chosen to feature in the Ceremony because it draws on the founding elements of Brazilian culture: indigenous geometry, African patterns and traditional Portuguese tile design.