There is a symbol of the city that you will see regularly while living in Philadelphia. It is the LOVE sculpture located in LOVE Park.

This simple letter sculpture, made of red, blue, and green colors, perfectly represents the atmosphere of this city. Without having to assertively say to passersby, "This is Philadelphia," this sculpture naturally showcases the city's identity and emotions.

When you first pass by LOVE Park, watching the people is often more entertaining than the sculpture itself. Tourists waiting in line to take photos, office workers sitting nearby eating sandwiches, and young people skateboarding in the area all have different purposes, yet it is strangely warm that they share that space.

The LOVE sculpture is the work of artist Robert Indiana, and it is geometrically composed of four simple letters. The large L and O are on top, while the V and E are below, with the 'O' tilted to break the balance, yet that twist completes the whole. Thanks to this 'tilted love,' the LOVE sculpture is not just a mere arrangement of letters but an artwork that embodies emotions, giving the feeling of walking alongside those emotions in this city.

The area around LOVE Park is always filled with the scent of people. At lunchtime, people from nearby offices come out with food and sit on benches, students stroll with a cup of coffee, and some individuals carry cameras instead of office bags, possibly freelancers. When someone is taking a photo in front of the sculpture, a passerby might even lift their camera to take a picture for them.

This park has had its share of controversies, including issues with homelessness, skateboarding regulations, and facility construction problems. It is not a perfect park, nor is it a perfect city. However, the very way it embraces that imperfection can be said to be quintessentially Philadelphia. If it were too neatly maintained, it would lose its charm, as this city feels alive only when it has the scent of people.

I believe the LOVE sculpture shows the 'honesty of being as it is' that this city possesses, rather than making Philadelphia more romantic. It is slightly tilted, different yet coexisting, and a space where anyone can blend in. Even without a lavishly decorated city, the emotions that naturally seep into daily life are created in front of this sculpture.

Some people pass by and take a photo at LOVE Park, while others simply sit on a bench enjoying the afternoon sun, but everyone pauses for a moment in front of these four small letters to create their own memories.

And those accumulated memories are what truly make this sculpture a symbol of the city.