In May 2022, Root Karaköy welcomed Peruvian urban artist Pesimo as an artist-in-residence, curated by Pınar Goodstone. The project was born from a chance encounter in Lima, Peru, where Pınar first saw Pesimo’s powerful murals—especially his portrayal of women as mythic and sovereign. Struck by the shared values of social justice and symbolic storytelling, she reached out to the artist. Over coffee and long conversations, the vision for Spirit of Peace was born. Root extended an invitation, and soon after, Pesimo arrived in Istanbul with his assistants Erika Patricia Barrantes Toro and Francyne Alvarez to bring the vision to life.

Created over the course of one month, the mural spans the entire façade of Root Karaköy and stands as the largest graffiti work in Istanbul. Its central figure, a woman holding the universe in her hand, radiates calm as she neutralizes the warrior men surrounding her. After many conversations with the artist, we embraced a shared conviction: that women embody the essence of peace. Spirit of Peace reclaims the female image from objectification and violence, presenting instead a powerful, cosmic matriarch a symbol of strength, healing, and transformation. It is a tribute to the women of Turkey, and a public declaration of our commitment to their dignity and rights.

Birds, too, play a key role in the piece. As a child of immigrants Japanese on one side, Peruvian on the other Pesimo uses birds as metaphors for freedom beyond borders. “The word immigrant should be removed from language,” he says. “The world belongs to everyone.” Spirit of Peace is not just a mural; it is a living message of hope, equality, and borderless solidarity. It anchors Root’s belief that art belongs in the streets, that it can spark change, and that it can carry the soul of a city. This mural is our gift to Istanbul, to women, and to the future.