Sorrow, is a piece of Humument that created by HaiLin Du over J. D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye. A Humument was a new expression of art that was inspired by Tom Phillips created over W. H. Mallock’s novel A Human Document. In this Humument, the artist is bringing out a different interpretation of the original text. The sentence in this artwork is from the top to the bottom, indicating a movement to guide viewers how to read it. The sentence said “I almost I thought I have… hold on, don’t cry, I’ll be very, very, very sad” is a sentence that portraying protagonist Holden Caulfield’s innermost feeling from The Catcher in the Rye. Holden Caulfield is an icon of teenage rebellion in the novel. However, it is a different expression showing the protagonist is being lonely and sad. As viewers continue viewing carefully, everything in this piece has meaning.
At the beginning of creating this piece, the artist is decided to use analogous colors to express a sorrow feeling. However, the artist also applying the idea from the original text and combing with his idea and finally comes out with this final product. As viewers looking at these colors, there is dominating navy blue is surrounded by the black color. In the original text, Holden Caulfield is a spokesman that asking why the society is corrupt. As a teenager, Holden did not understand what is true and wrong. Holden wishes to remain as a child and never grow up, because he believes being innocent is the happiest thing in the world. However, everyone has to face the reality, because everyone has to grow up. As a result, Holden hates the adult’s world, and he wants to protect the innocent from the society.
However, no one understands Holden, and Holden is on his own way. As time passing by, Holden is building a wall blocking himself from adult’s world. The color of this piece is a symbol of the wall that encircles Holden’s innermost feeling. As viewers can see, navy color is dominating the piece which representing sorrow, People may think he is bad teenager, because he got kicked out of high school, running away from home, drinking liquor and etc. None of the adults can understand Holden’s innermost feeling including his parents. Fortunately, at the end of the original text, Holden’s younger sister Phoebe comforted Holden’s mind. In this art piece, artist is chosen a page at the end of the novel. At the top of this art piece, there is a small space that colored with sky color, which represents a light from Phoebe getting into Holden’s innermost feeling.
This page is a scene that Holden is in an argument with Phoebe, and Phoebe starts to cry. From the original text, Holden expresses he hated his sister, because his sister wants to run away with him. However, the artist interprets this page into a different meaning. Holden is rebelling the society, because no one can understand him. However, the artist expressing Phoebe’s tears makes Holden realize he has someone he wants to care about. This art piece is designed to be sorrow, but the hidden meaning of the small space is indicating Holden’s mind is being comforted by his innocent sister. The artist hopes every viewer can understand the true meaning of the original text, and also can understand the interpretation of the artist.
Overall, Sorrow is an art piece indicating everyone to view something differently. The purpose of this artwork is to remind people should not make any prediction from the observation of the surface. The artist hopes everyone can understand Holden’s innermost feeling, but also has a deeper meaning which to inform people things can be interpreted in a different way.
