On May 26, 1918, the National Council of Georgia declared Georgia’s independence in Tbilisi and established a democratic republic. Georgian society and political forces jointly managed to take the most important steps: they implemented fundamental reforms, established democratic institutions, and gained de facto and de jure recognition of the country in the international arena. The twenties of the 20th century are the era of growth, interesting searches, and bold experiments in Georgian art. The free spirit of the newly founded, independent Georgia was felt in everything: opera, theater, fine arts, poetry, music… Unfortunately, this rise was very short-lived. On February 25, 1921, the Russian 11th Red Army entered Tbilisi and occupied the city. The conflict between the two powers resulted in great bloodshed, and eventually, the country became part of the Soviet Empire. The loss of independence in Georgia was followed by severe repression; The Bolsheviks banned other political parties, executed thousands of innocent people, and sentenced some to long prison terms and exile. The Soviet occupation started in 1921 and lasted for 70 years. Soviet terror and repressions did not stop during these years, although these repressions had a particularly massive character in the 1930s. There was no mercy; repression affected everyone – even the high-ranking officials of the Communist Party, the so-called “Bolsheviks of the first generation”, as well as artists, famous scientists, and the rural peasantry. The number of victims in Georgia reached 20-25,000 people. More than half of them were shot, and the rest were deported to remote camps for 8-10 years. The main turning points and historical moments were always strongly reflected in Georgian art, especially in Georgian theater, which at the beginning of the 20th century had a distinguished national character. That is why the name of the exhibition – CURTAIN has a symbolic meaning. The theatrical curtain, an integral part of the theater, which is located between the audience hall and the stage; the curtain as a kind of border, heralding the beginning and the end of the creative process; And the heavy iron curtain that isolated Georgia for decades. After the Sovietization, the country was cut off from Western culture and values that were always essential for Georgian society, especially Georgian Art.