A sensory display for experiencing rigidity and local shape in the display is provided. Rigidity and local shape of cells in an array of cells forming the display is controlled by three independent and different control mechanisms. Cell rigidity controllers control the rigidity of the cells. A shape array controller controls the shape of the array of cells. Cell pinning controllers controls the height of the cells. A computer control interface could control the respective control functionalities of each of the controllers. The display experience could be further enhanced with audio, images or video.