Ah...

We use the characters in our daily life. And these visual characters have various, context-dependent meanings. In the Japanese system of hiragana, “あ” [ah] is the most flexible character. Despite its simple sound, different inflections can express various human emotions: joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure. As such, the character of “あ” [ah] must reflect the emotional nuances of its use in the highly context-dependent culture of Japan. People often use this character without realizing its various expressions. To make them know this amazing feature, we proposed an object whose visual shape is the character “あ” [ah]. When people play with the object striking, bending, or rubbing, the various sounds of “あ” [ah] are expressed. Through the communicative possibilities of “あ” [ah], we can learn to appreciate the nuanced relationship between a character and its meaning. Finalist at 20th International collegiate Virtual Reality Contest (IVRC2012). Jury Prize at 18th Student CG Contest. Awards for Excellence at 2012 Asia Digital Art Award.

Original:
http://vimeo.com/52555492