“We go to foreign cities in search of sensuality and possibly love. And vice versa: we get in love in search of making the city in which we reside unfamiliar. All love affairs happen in foreign cities.” - Jalal Toufic
Relationships are humanity’s very foundation. Whether it be a parent, a friend, or a romantic partner, we have all loved - and been loved - by someone. We celebrate this in different ways: through shared time together, letters exchanged, and tokens of our affection. Seemly ordinary objects become sentimental and we cannot bear to part with them. But what happens when the relationship ends?
This was the problem The Museum of Broken Relationships sought to answer. Many museums contain objects regarded as precious to the masses. Art, poetry, and historical artifacts are consistently shown public appreciation. However, what about those objects that are only precious to you?
If you are anything like me, you keep every token, every card, every gift you have ever received. But for some, these reminders become just too painful. As you walk through this museum, you will see an array of everyday objects. Some of them are expected, such as old clothes or letters, but others are rather shocking, such as human hair or a thousand paper cranes. Even more special than the objects themselves are the heart-wrenching stories that go along with them, sent in by individuals from all over the world.
For less than 7 USD, the experience will likely leave you both laughing and crying. More importantly, it will leave you feeling seen, humbly human. It begs the question: what would I put in that museum?
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