This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at McGill chapter.

With their initial opening in Croatia, the Museum of Broken Relationships has recently opened up a new exhibit in Los Angeles, California. The original exhibit in Croatia came to be when two artists in the midst of their own breakup wondered what people did with objects that had been meaningful to them in their relationships (Museum of Broken Relationships).

Featuring a variety of household, personal, and other strange items, this museum runs solely on donations made by individuals who have recently broken up with their significant other. The objects that are featured are meant to symbolize a connection to a lost love or failed relationship, whether it be a reminder of the person or a story surrounding the object itself in connection to the person. These unique stories, which are posted next to the featured object, are what has drawn the public to this exhibition, as they give the museum-goer a very personal and emotional look into the romantic life of someone he or she has never met.

Pictured above is an example of one of the objects featured in the museum. The story for this object reads as follows: “On the night we met, he told me his nickname was Danger. Since he loved to cook with a wooden spoon, I bought him this custom left-handed spoon that says ‘Danger Est. 1.7.1987’ (his birthday). He cheated and left long before it was finished and shipped to me. Never used. Still dangerous” (Refinery 21).

Pictured above is another object featured in the exhibit. The story reads: “I followed a boy to Texas. Texas! The middle of the country. I have only ever lived by the ocean — I detest that state and the state it put me in. Finally, one day I drove west on I-10 until I hit the sand again. I left with a license plate” (Refinery 21).

Alexis Hyde and Amanda Vandenberg, the director and assistant director of the LA exhibition, stress that breakup stories matter. According to Hyde, donating items can be cathartic and brave in terms of sharing these experiences with others and reminding newly single people that life will continue after a breakup (Refinery21). The museum provides a different type of art experience both for the artists and for the art-goers, who may be inspired to donate their own personal items. Generally all donations are accepted as a rule, and no personal information, such as your name, will be attached to the object at the exhibition. Donating is encouraged and a link to confer about donations for the LA exhibition can be found here.

If you find yourself in LA and want a taste of a new type of art experience, be sure to check out the Museum of Broken Relationships.

Sources:

http://www.refinery29.com/2016/04/107581/museum-of-broken-relationships-…

http://img12.deviantart.net/e6c6/i/2009/333/e/c/broken_heart_yin_yang__b…

The Museum of Broken Relationships

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