Heartbreak as Art: The Museum of Broken Relationships in Chiang Mai

Tucked in a renovated historic building in Chiang Mai’s Chang Moi area, the Museum of Broken Relationships offers a deeply human experience—one that explores love, loss, and memory through everyday objects. Originally founded in Zagreb, Croatia, this museum has grown into a global phenomenon by collecting personal mementos from relationships that have ended. The Chiang Mai branch opened as a permanent location in late 2024.

As you walk through the museum, you’ll encounter items donated by real people—things that might look ordinary at first but carry extraordinary meaning. There are teacups, wedding dresses, x-ray scans, wooden figurines, and even axes, each accompanied by a short anonymous story about the relationship it once belonged to.

These objects provide a window into the universal emotions of heartbreak and healing.

The space itself is designed for reflection. Curated by Charlotte Fuentes and Piyathida Inta, the exhibits balance both raw vulnerability and artistic design. The Yong Chiang Building—where the museum is housed—features minimalist architecture and soft lighting, letting each item shine in its own story.

Visiting the museum feels like participating in a collective emotional journey. For an admission fee (about 200 baht for general visitors, 150 baht for students and seniors), you can stroll through rooms filled with pieces of broken hearts.

Whether you're alone, with a friend, or revisiting past memories, it’s a place that encourages empathy, catharsis, and connection.

The Museum of Broken Relationships isn’t just about what’s lost—it’s about what remains. By sharing stories and mementos, visitors and donors alike contribute to a hopeful message: even in separation, there is meaning, healing, and a timeless beauty to be found. For anyone visiting Chiang Mai, this is a deeply personal—and powerful—place to explore the fragile art of loving and letting