splatterlink - nobody here

the thoughts of a nobody, or an anybody, in form of texts, graphics, and interactive flash animation lead to an exciting trip of discovery where one never knows what to expect next. we interviewed the nobody himself.

What is nobodyhere.com?

NobodyHere.com is an ever expanding network of playful animations, melancholy poems and confused notes by a certain Nobody, whose profession, age, background and physical appearance remain unclear. Basically, it lets you wander through this odd mind.

How did you originally get the idea for nobodyhere?

It grew from necessity. I've always written short stories and notes, but never managed to connect them in one way, into a long linear story. Hypertext allowed me to just leave the texts as they were and show all the connections.

a typical day working on nobodyhere.com

How did your website develop?

I've been going through the archives and even found the very first sketch from may 1998. But that was text only. It was a linear list. Later I added pictures. Then I made it into a network. I gave each page an icon.

The central page used to be a grid of changing icons. Then there was the line figure made up of many line-pictures you could click separately. Each time you went back to the central page, you'd see the visited lines turned black. When you'd seen everything, the complete silhouette was filled in. Actually, I think I'll put this back (at least in the simple version.)

The opening page used to be different from the central I-page and would change each time a graphic was added. You can see some variations from 1999 and 2000 (January I, January II, January III, February, April)

Are the thoughts and opinions on the page really your own?

Well, I wrote everything. Of course I sometimes exaggerate, for the effect. Many of them are outdated, since I'm working on this for four years. But they're a part of me.

Is anything lost in the translation into english?

Yes. I don't translate about a quarter of the dutch pages, because it just wouldn't work. They're just too dutch. But what I do translate, conveys the same thing. So I've been told by other dutch/english speakers.

What is the meaning of all the bugs on your page?

Anyone visiting the site can pick a bug (I've scanned 580) and leave comments on all the pages. You can also see them in the chat box (my kitchen sink.)

How did your moth die? ;-)

The one in the animation died in the shower about four years ago. I couldn't help it. It kept coming at me and I had to defend myself!

What feedback do you recieve about your site?

Just click on the bugs. They're amused, confused or trying to give me a pep talk.

How did you manage to gain support by the Netherlands Foundation for Fine Arts, Design and Architecture?

I requested the forms and made a presentation in which I showed all my past work and future plans. I told them what NobodyHere was about.

Tell us a little about the creator of nobodyhere.

That would be me. I'd rather not.

What plans do you have for the future?

There's going to be a Japanese version. Right now I'm giving away buttons (you know the kind you can pin on your jacket) in exchange for a picture of yourself with the button. And I might make some more absurd merchandise. The pink bear is going to have his own site. I'm going to expand the chat-sink, so you can crawl through the holes into other landscapes. Some more e-cards. More stories about Mister.