Walking down Hollywood Boulevard, you will see people taking photos of the stars on the street, a guy dressed up as Marilyn Monroe, hawkers selling Hollywood sign keychains and different kind of buskers; all these people create the scene that you can only find here on the iconic Walk of Fame. It feels touristy, busy and overwhelming. Near the Chinese Theatre, across from the Guinness World Records Museum, and right next to the Hollywood Wax Museum, The Museum of Broken Relationships is in the center of the hustle and bustle. Surrounded by four white walls with simple decorations, the museum is filled with natural sunlight. It is bright and quiet; it calms you down immediately. With the noise from the crowds on the street, it is hard to believe that you're in one of the liveliest areas of Los Angeles.
I am here with my friend Sam. Sam is my talkative and funny roommate and when I met him, he had been dating his boyfriend for a year. Two months ago, he and his boyfriend broke up, and he is still traumatized. Sam has come with me today to bring a donation of a gambling token (that his boyfriend found on the ground and gave to him) and a sketchbook (that was a gift from his ex) to the Museum of Broken Relationships. He hopes to get rid of the items so he can move on to a new relationship.
I am here with my friend Sam. Sam is my talkative and funny roommate and when I met him, he had been dating his boyfriend for a year. Two months ago, he and his boyfriend broke up, and he is still traumatized. Sam has come with me today to bring a donation of a gambling token (that his boyfriend found on the ground and gave to him) and a sketchbook (that was a gift from his ex) to the Museum of Broken Relationships. He hopes to get rid of the items so he can move on to a new relationship.
Sam's donation to the Museum
The Museum of Broken Relationships is not anything cheesy or thrilling like the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium; nothing is going to jump out of the box and scare you, but you will be shocked by all the heartbreaking stories behind the items displayed. Alexis Hyde, the manager of the Museum, was working behind the reception desk when we came in. Her big smile and warm handshake made us feel even more welcome to this place. I asked her questions about the idea behind the museum.
"People are trusting me and the museum to tell their stories and to take care of things that are very precious to them. And I take that job very seriously."
What started the idea of this museum? There was an artist couple: they broke up and joked between the two of them that they could start a museum of broken relationships. A couple years later they asked their friends and family what do they have (from past relationships), and everyone had something. They had the pop-up. It was huge immediately because everyone can relate. They started to do touring and they kept touring and more people were interested. Then they opened the original building in Zagreb in 2010, then they opened the second location here in LA. They’ve done tours all around the world. An LA lawyer visited the museum in Zagreb and he was touched, and decided to open one here in LA. He met the artist couple and they collaborated on it. What is the most heartbreaking item you have received? The museum is divided into sections, so when you come in you will first see the ice breaker stories. And then when you get around the corner, it starts to feel a little bit more physically insecure, where some really hard stories are about like long term marriages, some very heart-breaking stories. And as you leave, there are more stories that are very optimistic. You are happy that they happened and they form what you are today. |
How do you feel when you are learning these heartbreaking stories from different people every day?
All of those times when I thought I was the lowest because I am going through broken relationships myself... I am actually the most connected because it is such an universal situation. We all fall down when we are looking for love. At the beginning I thought I’d start to turn cold inside and these stories wouldn't get to me...but they do. They absolutely do. People are trusting me and the museum to tell their stories and to take care of things that are very precious to them. And I take that job very seriously. Do you think the museum help people find closure? Absolutely. I think the really beautiful thing is when I see people who are together coming in and being brought closer because it’s a safe place to talk about your relationships and the relationships you had that didn’t work. It reminds you what you are thankful for now. By the end, we get a lot of kissing going on. And it’s really nice to see that it brings people together and it’s a place for people can feel less alone. We are proof that everyone understands; maybe some of your friends or family don't want to hear it anymore, but trust me, we do, we want to hear it. We share and we have no judgement about what happened. |
"We are proof that everyone understands; maybe some of your friends or family don't want to hear it anymore, but trust me, we do, we want to hear it. We share it and we have no judgement about what happened."
Do you have advice for people who are going through breakups?
Don’t isolate. Get out, talk to people. Come here. Go out and see things that feels you, like music books movies and TV. Don’t think that this is the end. It’s not, it’s definitely not. Also, time does heal. You can get past it. If love can fade, so can pain. It’s a really lovely thought that people get to a point where they feel comfortable letting go of something that was so sentimental. Each object here is proof that time can heal.
I have only had two people request to have their objects back. One person, they got back together, and the other person just got a little bit of cold-feet. When I told him that his object is already out, he said, ‘You know what, it's meant to be, leave it.’ So, that was cool.
There is a confessional underneath the stairs, we have a large book where people write confessions and secrets. And there is only room for one person. What is the chance that the person will see that others wrote: “Me too.” or “You are going to be okay.” Somebody can come in who has the same confession, and they will see ‘oh my god there are people just like me.’ It is really nice to know that there are people out there who care, especially when they are just strangers from all over the world. So it’s like I am not the only one who been through this because this person did and I can too.
There are a lot of people crying, I sell tissue in the gift shop. But it is good, you are exercising your empathy muscles, it’s not something you do very often. We read love stories and go to sad movies, coming here is just another way to do that. When you see these pieces that are from all over the world, you realise these things happen to all sexes, ages, races, ethnicity, geography, socio economic status... It is just incredible that the feelings are universal, and everybody goes through it.
It feels so warm here when all these people are connecting with each other. You go down the Hollywood Walk of Fame and you see these stars. People are looking at the guy who’s dressed up as Johnny Depp, the Chinese Theatre and whatnot. And then they come in here, we don’t have famous things, we don’t have names on things: everything is anonymous. People come in here and feel safe from the outside.
Don’t isolate. Get out, talk to people. Come here. Go out and see things that feels you, like music books movies and TV. Don’t think that this is the end. It’s not, it’s definitely not. Also, time does heal. You can get past it. If love can fade, so can pain. It’s a really lovely thought that people get to a point where they feel comfortable letting go of something that was so sentimental. Each object here is proof that time can heal.
I have only had two people request to have their objects back. One person, they got back together, and the other person just got a little bit of cold-feet. When I told him that his object is already out, he said, ‘You know what, it's meant to be, leave it.’ So, that was cool.
There is a confessional underneath the stairs, we have a large book where people write confessions and secrets. And there is only room for one person. What is the chance that the person will see that others wrote: “Me too.” or “You are going to be okay.” Somebody can come in who has the same confession, and they will see ‘oh my god there are people just like me.’ It is really nice to know that there are people out there who care, especially when they are just strangers from all over the world. So it’s like I am not the only one who been through this because this person did and I can too.
There are a lot of people crying, I sell tissue in the gift shop. But it is good, you are exercising your empathy muscles, it’s not something you do very often. We read love stories and go to sad movies, coming here is just another way to do that. When you see these pieces that are from all over the world, you realise these things happen to all sexes, ages, races, ethnicity, geography, socio economic status... It is just incredible that the feelings are universal, and everybody goes through it.
It feels so warm here when all these people are connecting with each other. You go down the Hollywood Walk of Fame and you see these stars. People are looking at the guy who’s dressed up as Johnny Depp, the Chinese Theatre and whatnot. And then they come in here, we don’t have famous things, we don’t have names on things: everything is anonymous. People come in here and feel safe from the outside.
"Don’t think that this is the end. It’s not, it’s definitely not. Also, time does heal. You can get past it. If love can fade, so can pain."
After the interview, I asked Alexis if she had time to listen to Sam’s story. She said yes, and asked him to talk about his relationship. I noticed that Sam was having a hard time telling her about his break-up, I could tell it still affects him. Sam gave her the token and the notebook to donate to the museum. Alexis saw that “Love You” was written on the notebook and found this very touching. Apparently, Sam had not found the notebook until after the breakup.
"When you see these pieces that are from all over the world, you realize these things happen to people of all sexes, ages, races, ethnicity, geography, socio-economic status... It is just incredible that the feelings are universal, and everybody goes through it."
As we left the museum, I could tell Sam felt a sense of relief. Maybe the trip to the Museum of Broken Relationships will help him find closure. He even seemed a little excited to see if his items get chosen for the next display. The Museum, which can be easily missed while walking down Hollywood Blvd., gives you a unique experience which is not gimmicky and touristy. It teaches you that you have to be brave in love and that everyone experiences heartbreak. So next time you are in Hollywood, be brave and go inside.
For donations: https://brokenships.la
Address: 6751 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Opening Hours:
Wednesday 11AM–6PM
Thursday 11AM–7PM
Friday 12AM–8PM
Saturday 12AM–8PM
Sunday 11AM–7PM
Monday 11AM–6PM
Tuesday 11AM–6PM
For donations: https://brokenships.la
Address: 6751 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Opening Hours:
Wednesday 11AM–6PM
Thursday 11AM–7PM
Friday 12AM–8PM
Saturday 12AM–8PM
Sunday 11AM–7PM
Monday 11AM–6PM
Tuesday 11AM–6PM
<< Prev
|
Next >>
|
|
Links |
7500 |
|