Exhibition
This immersive exhibition features fun and dynamic comics with digital media. Each storyline presents its own challenges and dives into the world of communication to further explore the topic of language barrier and finding your own “quest for communication.” Each pathway will have its own outcomes and it’s up to you to decide whether you leave or continue on your journey!
STORYLINE ONE – Convenience store
There are two adults, around their mid-thirties, standing and talking in a convenience store. One of them, the cashier, is behind a counter but leaning on it, while the other is talking animatedly, their hands waving around. As they talk, a kid, Aki, walks through the door and starts looking around the shelves. Aki disappears into the aisles, and the adults continue their conversation. Eventually, they look down to notice that Aki has been standing right next to them, and their conversation stops abruptly.
CHOICE ONE: Talk to Aki OR ignore them and go back to the conversation
>Talk to them
The cashier looks down and asks Aki a question. They don't seem to understand, tilting their head to the side. Aki wordlessly holds up a water bottle and a bag of chips, gesturing towards the cashier. The customer crouches down and asks Aki another question, getting the same response. Aki shrugs, gesturing for the cashier to let them check out. When the cashier tells them the total, they tilt their head and don’t reply.
>Ignore them
The two adults continue their conversation, turning a blind eye to Aki. They huff and slam their goods onto the counter. The cashier looks at them and rolls their eyes before scanning the two items. When the total pops up, the cashier tells it to them, but they don’t reply, only tilting their head.
CHOICE TWO: Show the kid the total on the register OR pay for the kid OR tell the kid to leave
>Show the kid the total
The cashier tilts the cash register down to Aki, who perks up and pulls a handful of money out of their pocket. They stand on their tiptoes and slam it onto the counter, pushing it towards the cashier. It is significantly more than the total.
>Pay for the kid
The customer stops the cashier, reaching across the counter with their card. There is a brief discussion, but the cashier takes the card and allows them to pay. Aki doesn’t understand what’s happening, and gestures towards the cashier again. The cashier responds by pushing the chips and water bottle towards them, and gesturing out of the store. Aki seems confused, but picks up their stuff and walks towards the door, looking back the whole time. Finally, once they get to the door, they turn around fully, expecting to be stopped. When the cashier just gestures again, they turn and leave. END OF STORYLINE.
>Tell the kid to leave
The cashier huffs, and slides the water bottle and chips back across the counter. They gesture at Aki to leave the store, and they grab their stuff and start to walk away before the cashier stops them and forces them to put the stuff back. They walk away sadly. END OF STORYLINE.
CHOICE THREE: Give the kid the proper change OR give them too much change OR give them too little
>Give the kid proper change
The cashier slides most of the money back, keeping one bill and getting a few coins from the register, adding that to the money pile. Aki grabs it all, stuffing it back into their pocket. They seem excited, grabbing the water bottle and chips quickly and running out of the store. The two adults shrug and look at each other before continuing their conversation. END OF STORYLINE.
>Give the kid too much change
The cashier slides all of the money back across the counter, pretending to take some of it. Aki takes the money happily and puts it in their pocket. They grab their stuff and walk away excitedly, out of the store. END OF STORYLINE.
>Give the kid too little change
The cashier takes the money and adds it to the register, sliding a couple coins back to the kid. Aki takes them, but looks expectantly back at the cashier, waiting for more. When they realize they aren’t getting anything, they huff and walk out of the store, looking back a couple times. The cashier and other adult continue talking, but are interrupted a short while later by Aki coming back with an adult. The adult starts gesturing wildly with their hands, waving their fist around. They open their hand and reveal that they have the coins Aki returned home with. After a long confrontation, the cashier sheepishly opens the register and gives Aki’s parent the rest of the change. Aki and their parent walk out of the store. END OF STORYLINE.
STORYLINE TWO – Playground
​
There is a group of children playing on a playground. They’re running around, chasing each other and laughing. There are a few on the swings, but the majority are playing a game together. Aki walks up to the playground, and goes up to the other children who are playing the game. One of the kids gestures towards them and says something, but it’s smudged and Aki doesn’t understand. They tilt their head questioningly.
CHOICE ONE: try to talk to Aki again OR ignore them and go back to playing.
>Talk to them
The kid tries again, repeating themself and gesturing towards Aki. Aki looks confused, and doesn’t respond.
>Ignore them
The kid shakes their head and goes back to playing with their friends. Aki looks dejected and walks away. END OF STORYLINE.
CHOICE TWO: keep trying to talk to them OR try another way
>Keep talking
The kid repeats themself again, slower and louder. However, Aki still doesn’t understand. The kid gets frustrated and throws their hands up, talking loudly and quickly. Aki gets overwhelmed and walks away. The kid walks back to their friends, shaking their heads. END OF STORYLINE.
>Try another way
When they just tilt their head and look confused, the kid seems to get an idea, and instead of trying to talk again, they just gesture between themself and Aki, then at the other kids playing, miming playing with them. This seems to make sense to Aki, and they nod excitedly. Following the kid back to their friends, they get introduced to all of them by gesturing between each of the friends and slowly saying their name to them until the new kid repeats it back correctly. The new kid gestures to themself and gives their name, and the rest of the kids do their best to repeat it back until they get it right. Finally, the game gets explained to them through a series of gestures and demonstrations, along with a few modifications to the rules, and they can join in on the fun! Aki starts running along with the other kids, and they have a great time. END OF STORYLINE.