Broken Relationship Art
There is a museum filled from wall to wall with mementos of couples who once were. This museum is called the Museum of Broken Relationships. Many exhibits have been showcased across the United States in various locations. The permanent homes for this intimate collection are in Los Angeles, Calif., and Zagreb, Croatia.
There is a simple reason that this museum is the subject of my article. Art is the expression of one's being, and a broken relationship is a state of being. More often than not, the phrase, “you need to move on,” is said to those who express the pain of losing a previous intimate relationship. I find moving on to be a flawed concept, as the best art and raw emotion comes from broken relationships. Even some of my best personal work came from my past relationships that ended. Below, I’ve shared 100-word collections of moments that used to be a part of who I was:
“Every time I see olives, I can’t help thinking of you, even though it's been a few years since I last saw you. Years filled with heartbreak and healing wounds. Years that change a person into someone new. Oh, have you heard? I’m even happily married now. There are times late at night as I wander the aisles of grocery stores. Making sure I get everything on my list. I come across the olives and think of the long drives I used to make on the 99 in the California summers to see you. Funny, I don’t even like olives.”
“How could I have known this would be the last time I would sit across from you? Sippin’ on cherry-lemon tea. Enjoying the warm sun. Or was I laughing at those corny jokes, drinking key-lime tea? Those always made me smile. Maybe I was drinking an Eve's’ Downfall, getting into another debate over religion or philosophy. Did I steal your tea, the Shanghai Dragon I always tried and grimaced at? Along with a kiss saying I was sorry with my devilish grin? Or maybe I did know. Heck, at least the tea is a sweet memory.”
Art is the perfect place to showcase emotion and turn it into something beautiful. I hope at least one person can escape theses tragedies through art.
Gianna Starr is a senior studying history.