When popular Southern California artist Darren Pearson, also known as “Dariustwin,” saw the videos and memes about Australian breakdancer Raygun at the Paris Olympics, he knew he had to do something special.
In a video shared on his social media platforms, where he has over a million followers, Pearson created an animation of Raygun, whose real name is Rachael Gunn, as a tribute to her unique dance moves that went viral. The animation is made up of 44 light painting photos of her dancing at the Olympics, which Pearson created near Frazier Park, about an hour and a half north of Los Angeles.
Pearson is famous for his light paintings, which he makes using a long-exposure photography technique. This involves using a moving light source to “paint” pictures against the night sky. Originally from San Diego, he travels across California to find the perfect spots for his artwork.
“It was meant as a tribute to her doing her thing. It wasn’t meant as an insult,” Pearson said. “I thought her performance was iconic, and people are going to remember it.”
However, some viewers used the video to criticize Gunn, saying she didn’t deserve to be at the Olympics.
One comment, which received over 3,000 likes, said, “This was so much more impressive than the original performance.”
Others called her an embarrassment to the Olympic Games and argued that she shouldn’t have been allowed to compete.
Pearson clarified that he didn’t intend to contribute to the negativity surrounding Gunn. He created the animation just to have fun with her viral performance.
“People took it and ran with it as they do,” he said. “She did her thing, and I did mine.”
Gunn responded to the criticism in an Instagram video on August 15, saying, “I didn’t expect so much hate, and it’s been pretty tough. While I had fun, I also took it seriously. I worked really hard for the Olympics and gave it my all.”
Gunn began training and competing as a B-girl in 2012 after watching an all-girl dance battle. She also works as a lecturer at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, where she earned her bachelor’s degree and PhD in music and cultural studies.
Some people defended Gunn on Pearson’s Instagram post, praising him for turning her performance into art instead of mocking her.
One comment said, “Happy to see someone making art instead of making fun of her. I wouldn’t want to be in the public eye these days.”