WORLD'S MOST UNUSUAL EXHIBIT ARCHIVES

MUMBAI'S SLUM MUSEUM JOINS WORLD'S MOST UNUSUAL EXHIBIT ARCHIVES





The world's first slum museum, which will open next month in Mumbai, is the latest to join the ranks of institutes, which display exhibits that are not only fascinating but also support causes. It will challenge the stereotypes that the West has about underprivileged people, courtesy films like Slumdog Millionaire. The first-of-its-kind, this pop-up museum will be held in a 13 x 6 foot portable caravan and will travel across the city . It will showcase the creations of the locals of Dharavi like leather products and ceramic items etc. Workshops and film screenings will also be held to ensure that people from the community showcase their creativity. Some other museums, which have broken all rules in the book with their eyeball-grabbing exhibits, are:

A RARE COLLECTION OF TOILETS

Name: Sulabh International Museum of Toilets, Delhi Dedicated to: Raising awareness of sanitation and hygiene It traces the historic revolution of commodes over the past 4,500 years. With exhibits from over 50 countries, the items in this museum include privies, chamber pots, decorated Victorian toilet seats, bathroom furniture, bidets and water closets in vogue from 1145 AD till date. Apart from including toilets used by Roman emperors that were made from gold and silver, it also has a rare collection of poems based on them.
What to look out for: A French toilet disguised as a bookcase. Also, a replica of the throne of Louis the XIV, which was inbuilt with a loo. It is believed that the king used to have court sessions while sitting on the pot.

AN EROTIC HOTSPOT

Name: Museum of Sex, New York Dedicated to: History, evolution and cultural significance of human sexuality From the erotic to the outlandish, it houses more than 15,000 sexual artefacts. Strictly for adults, the collection includes vintage vibrators, period photography and Japanese erotic art, etc. Although the exhibits are meant to be educative, they are often displayed in an explicit format. What to look out for: The museum cafe is famous for serving a blend of special `aphrodisiac' cocktails.

IF LOOKS COULD KILL

Name: Museum of Enduring Beauty, Malacca (Malaysia) Dedicated to: Showing different interpretations of beauty across cultures It documents the strangest kind of procedures, the lengths that humans can go to and the agony they can endure to look physically attractive! The exhibits on display highlight corseting, scarification, lip and neck stretching, tribal teeth filling, tattooing and foot binding etc., in short, all kinds of body modifications that people have gone through since ancient times. What to look out for: The exhibit of one of the most famous ladies in history, Ethel Granger, who had a tiny, 13-inch waist, which was barely enough to sup port her spine.

FOR ART GONE AWRY

Name: The Museum of Bad Art, Massachusetts Dedicated to: Celebrating bad artists and their works While most art galleries and museums in the world take pains to curate the best works of artists and sculptors, this one proudly displays the worst of the lot. Housing over 600 pieces, the gallery receives at least 20 artworks a month. But only the worst are chosen.Curators also scour flea markets, thrift stores and garbage cans to find pieces worthy for the museum!

MEMENTOS OF BROKEN HEARTS

Name: Museum of Broken Relationships, Zagreb (Croatia) Dedicated to: People who have a tough time overcoming heartbreak Two Croatian artists came up with this unusual idea after their own break-up.Anyone who has been in love and has been through heartbreak can contribute to this exhibit that has everything from poignant love letters to half-torn photographs of former lovers to beautiful wedding dresses and even a bottle of tears.

THE DEAD ON DISPLAY

Name: Museum of Death, Los Angeles Dedicated to: Taking away the fear of dying Celebrating death, this frightening museum has sections on baby coffins, the artworks of infamous serial killers, suicide machines and taxidermy . There are videos of autopsies, pictures of car accidents and actual crime scenes as well as rooms filled with funeral paraphernalia! The goal is to make people feel grateful that they are alive. What to look out for: You can see the real, guillotined head of the French serial killer, Bluebeard.