When a Classics professor in Ohio, reeling from the shock victory of Donald Trump, escaped to Athens for the documenta 14 exhibition, he had no idea that it would change him forever. His experience at the epicenter of the contemporary art world not only transformed his relationship to his academic discipline as a researcher and teacher, but also offered him new tools to resist the brute attacks of a populist regime against
our democracy.

Writing every day about the dynamic between ancient Greek and Roman culture and contemporary art, a voice emerged that turned into the urgent 'we' of Minus Plato. Out of the ruins of classicism and Trump's American carnage, Minus Plato would unite the profound lessons of ancient wisdom with the vital energy of contemporary artists. No Philosopher King is a testament to the power of attention and engagement that resists tyranny, whether of the demagogue or the ideal Platonic philosopher king, as Minus Plato seek to create a new form of resistance to forge an inclusive, diverse and responsible future for the US and the world.