The series Place des Martyres consists of about 170 watercolors and 80 drawings created in Beirut and New York between 1971-74, and exhibited in New York during the same period. Place des Martyrs or Martyrs Place, known as el Bourj, is located in Beirut city center. The name was given to commemorate the martyrs of many journalists and political figures who were hanged for espousing freedom of expression in opposing Ottoman rule. The area adjoining Martyrs Square was the site of Beirut's famous red-light district which was destroyed during the Lebanese Civil War of 1975-90.
