23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Forgotten Stage: Tskaltubo Theater

This photograph captures a decaying theater in Tskaltubo, Georgia, a relic of Soviet-era architecture now abandoned. The crumbling concrete, broken windows, and silent interior reveal the passage of time and the fading of public life. Framing the geometry of the structure against the surrounding emptiness, the image highlights the contrast between human ambition and inevitable decay. It emphasizes the haunting beauty of forgotten spaces and the raw textures of abandoned architecture, inviting viewers to reflect on memory, history, and impermanence.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2024
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Georgia
Copyright: © Nanncie Zhu