The Department of Psychology, in partnership with Sunway University Press, Peer Counselling Volunteers and Sunway Psychology Club organised their third Break Up Exhibition public event on 12- 15 September 2022, at the Art Gallery, Level 1, West Wing, Sunway University.
Following the success of their previous exhibition in 2018 and 2019, the third Break Up Exhibition returned after a two-year halt due to the pandemic. The exhibition was held over four days, featuring donated items and raw stories related to relationship separations.
The event was inspired by the Museum of Broken Relationship in Zagreb, Croatia. The aim of the exhibition was to normalise break ups, grief, separations and the emotional pain associated with them. This exhibition hoped to impress onto people that they are not alone in their journey of recovering from separations. The event also hoped to empower individuals to move on in their lives through the sharing of anonymous stories of survival from breakups and other separations.
The book Mending Hearts - a collection of stories and photos from the previous two BUEs, was also available for purchase at the exhibition.
In conjunction with the exhibition, there was also “Mind Matters” - free public talks by mental health professionals on various topics regarding relationships on all four days of the event. The speakers were:
Dr Joel Low, The Mind Psychological Services
I’ll Be Right Beside You: When Listening Is All You Have
Dr Anasuya Jegathesan, University of Cyberjaya
Toxic Relationships: The Presence and Absence of Individuals
Mr Kenny Lim, Befrienders Kuala Lumpur
Listening to Emotions
Dr Grace Yap, Lecturer, Sunway University
It Takes Two to Tango: Compatibility and Package
The BUE3.0 and Mind Matters talks were part of a larger campaign called the “Love Of My Life Campaign” that aimed to highlight lessons to learn from relationships. The LOML campaign was also featured on the Sunway Peer Counselling Volunteers’ and the Sunway Psychology Club’s social pages:
- Instagram: @sunway_pcv ; @sunwaypsychologyclub
- Facebook: Sunway Peer Counselling Volunteers; Sunway Psychology Club
- Linkedin: Sunway Peer Counselling Volunteers
Dr Woo Pei Jun, Head, Department of Psychology, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University shared, “Breakups are difficult but it gives you space to reflect on the relationship, learn about ourselves and make realistic changes to improve future relationship. Everyone reacts to breakup differently. Hence, it is important to give ourselves time to feel these feelings and heal by focusing on self-nurturing and establishing a new routine.”
Professor Elizabeth Lee, CEO, Sunway Education Group also felt that “Time, as the saying goes, heals all wounds. The sharing of stories at the Break Up Exhibition is meant to show that each and every one of us experience, react and heal differently. Human relationships are important as it affects our mental health and well-being. Ultimately the stories shared are meant to show us that we are not alone in our feelings of love, loss and healing, but rather to bring us hope, to remind us that we are all amazing human beings”.
For further information, please contact:
Ms Rachel Chin Yingyi: @email
Chairperson, LOML Campaign, Sunway Peer Counselling Volunteers
Mr Philip Chong Wah Tien: @email
Manager, Sales and Marketing, Sunway University Press
