Painter. David Kakabadze is recognized as a leading avant-garde Georgian painter in the 20th century, who was known for his theatrical sets and graphic art. He was an expert at merging West European art with the art of the Georgian culture. He became a pioneer in the field of cinematography, after studying in Paris, as well as being an amateur photographer. Born to a poor peasant family in the village of Kukhi, which was about 165 miles west of the capital city of Tbilisi, he exhibited his art for the first time as a school pupil. Being sponsored by local philanthropists, he studied natural science at St. Petersburg University, graduating in 1916; had classes at the studio of Lev Dmitroyev-Kavkazsky at the Imperial Academy of Arts; and did research in old Georgian arts. While teaching mathematics and physics in a local school, he earned a second degree in biology. After teaching school for a few years and being part of the "Intimate Studio of Painters and Illustrators," he entered into an art competition, placing first, and receiving the state sponsorship to study art in Paris. He traveled with two colleagues, Lado Gudishvilit and Iakob Nikoladze. He learned how to use other materials, such as metal and glass, to make art; the concept of "subjectless paintings;" and a new "Leftist" style called cubism, yet after being exposed to all of that, he decided to specialize in abstract sculpture and paintings. Using bright colors outlined in bold black, he painted his trademark patchworked depiction of agricultural fields and landscapes. His sculpture "Z" was purchased in 1926 and brought to the United States, and since 1953, "Z" has been on exhibit at the Yale University Art Gallery. He had successful exhibitions at the Salon des Indépendants in Paris along with becoming a lecturer on his art techniques and on various aspects of the fine art. In 1923, he constructed a film camera, which gave an illusion of a three-dimensional image and patented it. The artist thus became one of the pioneers of a three-dimensional cinema, which is now called 3D. A few months prior to returning to Georgia, he had an exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum at the "International Exhibition." As a promising artist, his work was being recognized worldwide. When he left Georgia, his homeland was an independent country, but upon returning, he found his homeland under the Communist Soviet Union, which dictated the limitations of artists of pen or paint. There was no freedom of expression. All art was to praise Communism with a political agenda. Artists were being executed or being sent in exile to Siberia for years for non-conforming. The Communist Iron Curtain isolated artists from the rest of the world. With his abstract art not being accepted by the Communist, his promising art career ended. Using his artist talent for other categories of work, he designed the set for 10 films and 30 operatic productions. He patented a film apparatus for volumetric shooting. As an art historian, he made a 1930 documentary film, "Monuments of Material Culture of Georgia." He taught at the Academy of Arts in Tbilisi, rising from professor to a head management position. He was employed there from 1928 until 1948 when he was dismissed during the Joseph Stalin era because he would not conform to the Communist ideology. His long-time friend Gudishvilit was dismissed from the Academy of Arts in 1948. In shame and defeat, he died 3 years later. Recognized in the 21st century as a great artist, his largest collection of work is unfiltered and on exhibit at Tbilisi's National Gallery. Today "Z" is his only surviving sculpture.