February 7th 2021

Have You Seen Me: Part 2

A Conversation with the Mastermind Behind It

So, the aftermath: in terms of the original picture, I got in contact with the actual person behind the only website with the girl's picture on it, and he was kind enough to send me the original postcard and a bit more information about its origins. Unfortunately, when that postcard was reverse image searched, the internet once again found no other trace of it. I suppose that's a mystery that remains unsolved...for now.

Remember that cliff hanger ending to part 1? Well, exactly ten minutes after I completed editing, a friend of mine who was helping out finally found the source: antiflowershowmovement and its logo? The girl we've been looking for. With my dumb luck, I was able to unravel a few of the strangest parts of the whole affair. So post editing impromptu second article rushed writing me presents: a conversation with the mastermind behind it all.

Tagged account: @antiflowershowmovement

(Side note. yes, I know I was way off with the missing persons theory. Sue me. I'm a writer. Scheming up plots is my job.)

Caption note: These are not real texts, the direct quotes used were sent over email.

Steph: "Where did you get this picture from? What's the significance?"

Antiflowershow: "I SAW IT WHILE TEACHING MYSELF HOW TO SCREEN PRINT, SAW IT, AND HER FACE, JUST REALLY SPOKE TO ME. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY, IT'S A FEELING REALLY. I WAS LOOKING FOR A PIECE OR IMAGERY THAT COULD INTERACT AND BE NOTICED FROM THE DAILY PUBLIC, MISINTERPRETATIONS OF ANNE FRANK, AND CHARLES MANSON IS A START, I GUESS."

Steph: "How long has the picture been going around for?"

Antiflowershow: "2 YEARS. THE FIRST YEAR WAS AN OCCASIONAL WHEAT PASTES AROUND TATTOOED MOM. IT WASN'T UNTIL 2020 WAS WHEN I STARTED PRODUCING STICKERS REGULARLY."

Steph: "What's up with the editing?"

Antiflowershow: "I LIKE SCREEN PRINTING, I LIKE HALF TONES, I LIKE CONFUSION, GETS PEOPLE THINKING, WE NEED MORE OF THAT IN SOCIETY."

Steph: "How many copies of the photo are actually around the city?"

Antiflowershow: "I CAN'T SAY REALLY, I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW. I JUST MAKE THE STICKERS, BUT I HAVE MADE OVER 7500+

Steph: "How large is the radar of the picture's spread?"

Antiflowershow: "FROM TEXAS TO THE NETHERLANDS, NOT EVERY COUNTRY, BUT NANCY IS INTERNATIONAL."

Steph: "How has the public's response been?"

Antiflowershow: "IT DEPENDS. I GET MORE DMS SINCE I'VE LINKED THE NAME TO THE IMAGE. I WAS ACTUALLY NERVOUS OF HAVING A CONNECTION OR POSSIBLE ACCESS TO SFURTHER COMMUNICATE WITH ME. I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH A FEW BANDITS LEAVING OFFENSIVE MARKS ON MY STICKERS, BUT THE OCCASIONAL MESSAGE FROM A STREET ART ENTHUSIAST MAKES EVERYTHING WORTH IT."

Steph: "You named her Nancy?"

Antiflowershow: "UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T PROVIDE ANYMORE INFORMATION ON THAT SUBJECT AS THAT COULD POSSIBLE REVEAL MY PERSONAL IDENTITY."

Steph: "How did you manage the crazy endeavor?"

Antiflowershow: "BEING BROKE AND BORED"

Steph: "Most bluntly, why?"

Antiflowershow: "WAKE THE FUCK UP, AND START THINKING FOR YOURSELF, DON'T NORMALIZE YOURSELF."