The Museum Of Broken Relationships – Not Your Average Collection!

Walking into the Museum of Broken Relationships, the travelling collection of objects sent in to its curators from heartbroken lovers all around the world, thrusts you into a world of insecurity, fear, paranoia, and in some cases, revenge – It’s like you accidentally opened a door to a room full of strangers sitting around pining for a lost love, and having to stand there while they cry, scream, and eventually come to terms with the fact that they have indeed loved and lost, and that it bloody hurts.

I was surprised by the number of people viewing the collection of 100 or so objects, which poignantly tell the story of love-lost – some were heart-wrenchingly sad – like the lady who’s father’s lack of permission for her to date an admirer led to a young man’s suicide; and some celebratory – the champagne cork sent in to celebrate the dumping of a cheating fiance just days before a planned wedding.

The museum was started in Croatia by Olinka Vištica and Dražen Grubišić, when they decided to embark on a project to help people overcome the pain of failed love by sending in objects representing it – they felt it was a lot more therapeutic than therapy or self-help, and so the museum was born, and it’s been a roaring success. I have no doubt that this success comes down to the fact that love is something we can all relate to, and even more so love-lost – not everyone may have had a serious relationship thus far in their life, but I would bet money on them having felt heartbreak at some point – love doesn’t know the boundaries of a relationship, and simply pining for one with someone you desire can result in just as much pain as if you were to marry and divorce in 20 years time.

Over the last few years Olinka and Dražen have amassed a huge collection of belongings from all around the world – which I guess just goes to show that no matter the colour of your skin or the language you speak – love and heartbreak is the same no matter where you come from.

The collection has recently been shown in London (where I was lucky enough to catch it last week), various cities in the USA, South Africa and Argentina. It seems our appreciation for the self-indulgent knows no bounds, as the museum receives hundreds of new entries each month.

After London the museum will be on the road again, so if it comes to a city near you I definitely recommend checking it out. Whether you’re in love, heartbroken, or just curious, the exhibition has something for everyone, and for me it reminded me that there will always be love, no matter what.

Even if it does all go to pot, there will always be a place for you to send that now-hated token of a love that once was – and there’s nothing more therapeutic than that.

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