At the start, one gets the impression of being in a normal museum where you walk from room to room and look at things like paintings. The Museum of Broken Relationships, however, offers its visitors a chance to see a special part of people's lives: both women and men from all over the world have sent in their personal belongings which they connect with past and broken relationships.
There is a surprisingly large number of things in the little museum that is set in the beautiful old town of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The things have been placed in different rooms, representing different kinds of break-ups. Some relationships lasted for a long time while others were only short ones.
A woman from the Philippines sent a newspaper from NYC where she and her boyfriend had been building up their careers. The newspaper stands for the hard work of becoming successful together; within a few years though, the couple took different roads in life.
As you walk through the museum you will laugh your head off one minute and find yourself reduced to tears during another. This might happen in the room of unintended break-ups, that is, relationships that fell apart because one partner died.
Poems and letters, or broken glass are common symbols for the end of a pleasant, but sometimes difficult time. People also sent wedding dresses, photos and things that helped them escape a relationship for good, like a bicycle or trainers.
This museum might not teach you anything about art, history or technology, but it shows a very humane side of life. Each story tell us that life will go on after a break-up. It might not be easy for a while but you will learn from your experience and grow stronger again.
Having visited a lot of “normal” museums, the Museum of Broken Relationships is a good second choice and a creative way of making people think about their lives.
