Photo courtesy of Museum of Failed Relationships in Singapore


Romantic detritus and sentimental debris

A bottle opener shaped like a key, mannequin hands, fuzzy pink handcuffs, a tear soaked stuffed teddy bear, and more — music, books, a favorite t-shirt, a wedding gown: romantic detritus and sentimental debris. What do you do with the things that are the leftover remnants of a failed relationship? Donate them to the exhibition of the relics of failed love that hopes to bring solace to the heartbroken: The Museum of Broken Relationships.

The Museum of Broken Relationships, which opened in Singapore yesterday, is a traveling display of items related to failed relationships donated by people who live in the cities the museum has visited.

Concept founders Olinka Vistica and Drazen Grubisic decided to set up the exhibit in Croatia after consoling friends over failed romances. They hope its global tour will offer people the chance to overcome the pain of heartbreak through art.

These remnants of several love affairs have so far shown in Croatia, London and Berlin. Singapore is their first Asian stop.

"The Museum of Broken Relationships is an art concept which proceeds from the assumption that objects possess ... holograms of memories and emotions, and intends with its layout to create a space of secure memory in order to preserve the heritage of broken relationships," says the exhibit's website.

"That's why it could be therapeutic."

Canada.com

Gets rid of, yet keeps safe, emotionally laden items

In Berlin, an axe used by a woman to break up her ex-girlfriend's furniture, along with the broken furniture, was on display alongside a wedding dress and a pair of skates.

Every object in the museum is anonymous and has a short description of the relationship of which it was a part.

Olinka Vistica, co-founder of the concept said the exhibition helps give people a place to get rid of, yet keep safe, emotionally laden items.

The exhibition is a place at which everybody can exhibit a part of their personal history and compare it with others

People wanting to donate items can do so via its website, at the donations link.

From the Museum of Broken Relationships website:

The Museum of Broken Relationships is an art concept which proceeds from the assumption that objects possess integrated fields - holograms of memories and emotions - and intends with its layout to create a space of secure memory or protected remembrance in order to preserve the material and nonmaterial heritage of broken relationships.

Unlike the destructive self-help instructions for recovery from failed loves, the Museum offers every individual the chance to overcome the emotional collapse through creation, i.e., by contributing to the holdings of the Museum. The individual gets rid of controversial objects , triggers of momentarily undesirable emotions, by turning them into museum exhibits, i.e., artifacts and thereby participating in the creation of a preserved collective emotional history.

Photo galleries

Slide show at Chinaview.com

Museum of Failed Relationships in Singapore

See the exhibition in the photo gallery at the project's website.