University of Michigan Professor James Cogswell found a way to infuse the best of ancient Greek art with some modern twists that include vinyl, an AK-47, and reflecting on today’s society

The artistic work called Vinyl Euripides is on display at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation in Athens, named for the famed director whose works include a trilogy of films based on Euripides’ works.

Cogswell told MStamps that he completed the design before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and researched the plays and Cacoyannis’ films and as he developed individual vinyl scenes, he reflected on how the ancient plays, the modern film interpretations, and world events intersected in the pieces.

“The installation responds to a film trilogy from the 1960’s and 1970’s by Cacoyannis based on three plays by Euripides about the Trojan War. The themes depicted in those dramas seem more sadly relevant as each day passes,” said Cogswell.

He took the pieces to Athens, working with two assistants, the artist Margaret Couch Cogswell and Nikolas Katsivilakis, a graduate of the Athens School of Fine Arts, Cogswell worked nearly three weeks on the painstaking installation of each image.