At A Glance

• This artwork is currently in storage

• The Mangbusucks were among the sculptures included in an International Sculpture Garden at Penn’s Landing

• To flank the approaches to the tombs of eminent people, Koreans carved memorial stone figures known as mangbusucks

• Dressed in ceremonial robes and holding scrolls, these two sculptures represent scholar-officials

The Mangbusucks were among several sculptures that were included in an International Sculpture Garden at Penn’s Landing, along the Delaware River between Walnut and Spruce Streets. Due to redesign of the waterfront site, these sculpture are currently in storage in anticipation of the potential relocation of the International Sculpture Garden.

To flank the approaches to the tombs of eminent people, Koreans carved memorial stone figures known as mangbusucks. The two in the International Sculpture Garden, dressed in ceremonial robes and holding scrolls, represent scholar-officials. They were carved for the tomb of Oh Ryong Suh, a court official who advanced to the rank of vice-minister before his death in 1694. These figures, which together weigh almost 3 tons, were a gift to the Fairmount Park Art Association (now the Association for Public Art) from the International Cultural Society of Korea and the Korean Association of Greater Philadelphia.

The International Sculpture Garden

The International Sculpture Garden was conceived by the Fairmount Park Art Association (now the Association for Public Art) in the 1960s as part of the anticipated U.S. Bicentennial celebration. The open-air installation celebrated and demonstrated the impact of other cultures on the American experience, with a focus on ancient and ethnographic artworks. “Each individual piece,” the Association noted, “should not only be typical of that nation’s heritage, but should also be of the highest quality.” The sculpture collection includes a group of significant objects from diverse cultures. The Art Association acquired and installed the garden’s sculpture collection over several years.

Since its 1976 dedication, the garden’s site has undergone many changes. In 1992, Venturi Scott Brown and Associates’ Columbus Monument, a 106-foot-high obelisk, was erected at the north end, and a hotel now also occupies a portion of that section. Conditions surrounding the garden have changed dramatically in recent years, leading to a reconsideration of the existing garden site. In anticipation of the potential relocation of the International Sculpture Garden, most of the sculptures have been removed for conservation treatment and placed in storage.