Israeli street artist Lior Bentov, known by his artistic name Pesh, has been transforming Frankfurt's urban landscape with large-scale, vibrant murals that carry messages of hope and peace during these dark times. The Tel Aviv-based artist has completed five buildings across the German city, with a sixth project set to debut in the train station district in the coming days.
The most recent addition to Bentov's Frankfurt portfolio is a striking mural on the Massif E building, which houses the former E-Kinos cinema in Frankfurt's city center. The artwork features bold colors and a colorful eagle alongside the inscription "Pace e Salute" (Peace and Health), illuminating the building's facade with new brilliance. "I always try to create something unique," says the Israeli artist, whose works are deliberately abstract rather than immediately comprehensible images, leaving ample room for viewer interpretation.
Bentov's artistic philosophy centers on composition and the connection between colors and forms. "What drives me is the composition, the connection between the colors and the forms," he explains. His artwork represents something that gives viewers significant space for interpretation rather than conveying clear, instantly understandable messages. The artist has developed a strong affinity for Frankfurt, attributing his enthusiasm not only to the artworks he creates but particularly to what he calls "the gang" – the team he collaborates with in the city.
The collaboration has evolved into close friendships and what Bentov describes as a small family. "We built a connection through art, but we also have the same energy and philosophy," the artist notes. "We all see the elements of friendship, collaboration, and work – the creative part. That's all part of the whole." Florian Joeckel, managing director of Massif Central and part of Bentov's "gang," echoes this sentiment: "We think alike, we look at a place and come to the same conclusions."
The partnership between Bentov and the Frankfurt team began somewhat serendipitously. Joeckel, who previously worked as a concert agent traveling the world, stumbled upon a Tel Aviv art shop called Fly Gelada. "It looked like a completely absurd travel agency," he recalls. However, he discovered that the shop housed Tel Aviv's creative collective, of which Bentov was a member. The connection was facilitated by shop owner Yaron Mendelovici, who remains closely connected to both artists and frequently accompanies Bentov on his trips to Germany.
One of Bentov's most memorable projects remains his first major collaboration in Frankfurt – a massive street painting for the 2019 Frankfurt am Meer festival. The artwork covered an impressive 100 by 15 meter area on Taunusstraße in the train station district. The project presented unique challenges due to extreme time constraints: the street was only cleared and cordoned off for the artists on the morning of the festival day, with the first guests expected to arrive at 5 PM. "It was huge, that was the biggest thing I'd ever done, and we only had half a day," Bentov remembers. Every millimeter was pre-planned so they could begin immediately when street sweepers cleared the area at 6 AM.
This level of dedication and perfectionism defines Bentov's artistic approach. According to Joeckel, the artist obsesses over details until the last minute, often redesigning projects ten times to optimize them. "If necessary, Pesh sits for 48 hours and paints," Joeckel enthuses. "Then he sleeps for two or three hours somewhere in the hotel, and then he's back again." This commitment was dramatically illustrated during Bentov's journey to Frankfurt for the Massif E project, when Tel Aviv's airport closed due to the Middle East conflict.
Rather than postpone the project, Bentov traveled by bus to the Egyptian border, crossed on foot, made a stopover at a remote Bedouin camp, and was driven by taxi at night to Sharm el-Sheikh airport, from where he finally flew to Frankfurt. Three weeks later, he was on one of the first planes able to land back in Tel Aviv. This extraordinary dedication reflects the artist's deep commitment to his collaborative relationships and artistic vision.
The ongoing situation in his homeland weighs heavily on Bentov's mind, even when traveling abroad for art projects. The 41-year-old artist has contemplated leaving Israel multiple times, a topic that frequently arises in conversations with friends. "But for me, it's my home, my friends are there, my family too," he explains. "I've received a lot from this place – my education, my friends, my culture." The current circumstances make focusing on artistic details particularly challenging. "It's much more difficult than before, because of everything happening around us," Bentov reflects, citing the hostage situation, the war, the suffering of people in Gaza, and the extent of destruction on all sides.
Despite these challenges, Bentov's desire for his region is simply stated: "I wish for peace." This longing manifests as a recurring motif throughout his work, including his Frankfurt projects. The Massif E features the New Year's greeting "Peace and Health," while another graffiti piece in Frankfurt's city center incorporates lines from John Lennon's famous song "Imagine": "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." Bentov believes that peace has become an outdated word, with advocacy for it now seeming almost naive, which motivates him to counteract this perception through his art.
"I think it's a pretty fundamental purpose of art to place things where they cannot be lost in human drama," Bentov describes his approach. For this reason, incorporating peace motifs into his artwork represents a political statement. His philosophy extends to other works as well, including "Three Little Birds" in the Massif Central stairwell, which references Bob Marley's song and was created on October 7, 2023 – the day of the Hamas attack on Israel – when Bentov was traveling to Frankfurt for another project.
Florian Joeckel emphasizes that democratic fundamental values serve as a basic attitude and key message in Bentov's artworks. In anticipation of the World Design Capital, an international festival on design and democracy scheduled for Frankfurt next year, Pesh's new facade design for Massif E represents an important contribution. When asked why he repeatedly brings an international artist to Frankfurt for projects, Joeckel responds: "Ultimately, Frankfurt is the most international city, so why must it necessarily be done by someone from Frankfurt?" He considers Pesh one of the world's most creative artists, who additionally comes from Frankfurt's sister city Tel Aviv, creating a direct Frankfurt connection.
Bentov himself has developed strong ties to the city, expressing joy at returning to the people of Frankfurt because of the excellent connections he has formed. However, he has also experienced difficult times there, particularly during his October 2023 visit when news of the Hamas attack gradually emerged while he was working on the "Three Little Birds" piece. As Joeckel recalls, "Everything is going to be alright" – the song's refrain – embodies their spirit and belief that everything will eventually work out somehow.
