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Shattered Love: Chiang Mai’s New Museum Turns Heartbreak into Art
The Museum of Broken Relationships is a new cultural landmark in the heart of the city
Samuel Mitchell
November 23, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
Heartbreak is a universal experience, and now Chiang Mai has a new destination to explore its many stories. The Museum of Broken Relationships, which recently opened on Tha Pae Road, turns everyday objects into powerful symbols of love, loss, and resilience. This is the second permanent branch of the globally renowned museum, originally founded in Zagreb, Croatia, by former lovers Olinka Vištica and Dražen Grubišić.
What started as a personal catharsis for its founders has become a global phenomenon. Olinka and Dražen first contributed a wind-up bunny toy that represented the end of their own relationship. The idea resonated so deeply that people from around the world began sending their own mementos of heartbreak, creating an ever-growing collection.
Today, the museum houses over 3,500 items and has hosted exhibitions in 68 cities across 35 countries.
Objects That Tell Stories
Each item in the museum tells a story, some heartbreaking, others unexpectedly humorous. A wedding dress sealed in a jar symbolizes a life imagined but never lived. A postcard from a childhood sweetheart recalls innocent love lost to time. A tin of Love Potion humorously labeled “Doesn’t work” underscores the futility of trying to hold onto someone who has already gone.
In the Chiang Mai branch, visitors encounter deeply personal objects from Asia and beyond. An oriental teacup reminds its owner of their mother and their homeland, Iraq. A wooden flamingo carries the bittersweet humor of a long-lost relationship. An x-ray reveals the fallout from a car accident and a declaration of love that turned out to be false.
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The stories accompanying these objects are unedited, preserving the raw emotions of their donors. As Olinka explains, “Letting go is an important ritual, but it is also an act of communication. A personal story can travel the world, connecting strangers in a profound way.”
Chiang Mai's Touch
The Chiang Mai branch is curated by Charlotte Fuentes and Piyathida Inta, who bring a local perspective to the collection. “We understand the importance of featuring Thai stories,” says Fuentes. “These stories connect with our audience and show the universality of love and loss.”
The museum’s new home is as striking as its collection. The restored building on Tha Pae Road features wide balconies overlooking the bustling streets and spacious exhibition rooms that give each item space to breathe.
Plans are already underway to host events and collaborate with the local arts community, ensuring the museum becomes a vibrant part of Chiang Mai’s cultural landscape.
Meet the Visionaries
Olinka Vištica, born in Split, Croatia, in 1969, is a cultural producer and co-founder of the museum. She holds degrees in French and English literature and cultural management. Olinka’s career spans dance, theater, and film, including her tenure as managing director of the Motovun Film Festival. She also taught alternative financing at the Zagreb Academy of Dramatic Art, sharing her expertise with a new generation of creatives.
Dražen Grubišić is a visual artist with a master’s in painting from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb. His artistic vision has transformed ordinary objects into profound works of art, anchoring the museum’s identity as both deeply personal and universally relatable.
A Visit to Remember
Visitors are invited not only to experience the collection but also to contribute to it. If you have an object that carries a story of love or heartbreak, the museum welcomes your donation.Your story could join this global archive, connecting strangers through shared emotions.
As Dražen notes, “Repeat visitors often find new meaning in the collection. How they relate to the items depends on their state of mind at the time.”
Exhibition Details
Name: Museum of Broken Relationships
Description: A museum showcasing personal objects and stories that symbolize love and heartbreak.
Location: Tha Pae Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Opening Hours: Daily, 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Admission Price:
Adults: 200 Baht
Students/Seniors (65+): 150 Baht
Founders: Olinka Vištica and Dražen Grubišić
Curators (Chiang Mai): Charlotte Fuentes and Piyathida Inta
Website: https://brokenships.com
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