A moving and unexpected exhibition will open at the House of Signatories, part of the National Museum of Lithuania, and run for just a few days — “(EX)HIBITION of Failed Relationships.” Created in collaboration between students of Creative Industries at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) and the museum’s team, the exhibition invites visitors to explore one of the most sensitive yet universally familiar themes: the course of a relationship, its ending, and the emotional farewell. The exhibition will be open from May 23 to 25, from 12:00 to 20:00, in the cellars of the House of Signatories. Admission is free.

Intimate Yet Universal

The exhibition showcases objects left behind after breakups — from love letters, stuffed animals, and jewelry to a wedding dress. Each item comes with its own story: deeply personal, sometimes painful, but always authentic and relatable. Exhibiting these objects becomes a way to reflect on failed relationships and to say goodbye to them.

The items and stories were collected by VILNIUS TECH Creative Industries students Sandra Jurytė, Darvydas Kilmanas, Domantas Vaišnoras, and Andrejus Čisleris, who also shaped the exhibition concept. Visitors will hear the voices of those who shared their stories as part of the display. These narratives and belongings form an emotional archive — one that the students now open to the public.

“We wanted to show that every breakup experience is unique, yet universal. We are not alone – we’ve all been ‘in that position’ at some point. The question is: are we still holding on, or are we ready to let go?”
– ask the young curators of the exhibition.

An emotionally charged and unexpected exhibition, “(EX)HIBITION of Failed Relationships”, opens for a limited time at the House of Signatories, part of the National Museum of Lithuania. Created by Creative Industries students from Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) in collaboration with the museum team, the exhibition explores the emotional landscape of romantic relationships, their endings, and the act of saying goodbye. The exhibition runs from May 23 to 25, 12:00–20:00, in the atmospheric cellars of the House of Signatories. Admission is free.

A Journey Through Emotional Stages

The exhibition guides visitors through different stages of a relationship — from euphoric beginnings to endings and release. In the final space, everyone is invited to share their own experiences — a symbolic gesture and personal act of emotional cleansing. Some of the objects will be ritually destroyed on Sunday, May 25, at 6 PM as a form of emotional liberation.

Items on display — including love letters, plush toys, jewelry, and even a wedding dress — were collected along with their stories by students Sandra Jurytė, Darvydas Kilmanas, Domantas Vaišnoras, and Andrej Čisleris. Visitors will hear voices recounting these experiences, transforming the exhibition into a living archive of shared heartbreak and healing.

The House of Signatories actively seeks collaboration with educational institutions as part of its mission to engage younger audiences. Inviting students to curate an exhibition within the museum represents a deliberate step in involving youth in the museum’s creative processes. The cellars, chosen as the exhibition space, offer a unique environment that inspires experimentation and playful exploration of curatorial practice.

“Collaborating with VILNIUS TECH students is especially meaningful to us. This exhibition brings young voices, authentic experiences, and emotional courage into a historical space. It is more than education or cultural activity — it’s a human connection between generations, between past and present,” – says Dr. Dalia Strimaitytė, Director of the House of Signatories.

On June 2, the House of Signatories will also host an exhibition of master’s graduation projects by students from the Department of Design at the Vilnius Academy of Arts. This exhibition marks yet another step by the House of Signatories of the National Museum of Lithuania in engaging younger audiences in the museum’s activities and creative processes.

“(EX)HIBITION of Failed Relationships” is a bridge between past and present, between personal stories and collective experience. It is a poignant reminder that every ending can be a new beginning. The exhibition will be open at the House of Signatories, part of the National Museum of Lithuania, from May 23 to 25, between 12:00 and 20:00. Admission is free.