Multidisciplinary artist Robin Frohardt is set to bring her unique cardboard universe to Austin, inspired by nearly two decades of observing the vibrant life around a Home Depot parking lot in Brooklyn. Frohardt, who has lived across from the bustling store for 17 years, describes the daily chaos as “epic,” filled with the sounds of honking and the movement of trucks, shopping carts, and pedestrians.
In her latest project, titled Shopping Center of the Universe, Frohardt transforms this familiar scene into a cardboard replica, creatively capturing the essence of the Home Depot and its surrounding neighborhood. “Every part of it has been a challenge,” she remarked during a rehearsal at the McCullough Theatre, where her performance will blend puppetry and cinema with her cardboard creations. “It’s a crazy idea.”
Previously recognized for her acclaimed installation The Plastic Bag Store, which featured a grocery store constructed entirely from plastic items, Frohardt is eager to showcase her new work in Austin this Friday and Saturday.
“I think people, especially in America, especially in Texas, can relate to this endless shopping center phenomenon,” she observed. “How do we feel as humans about that?”
The Parking Lot Ecosystem
Frohardt’s show reinterprets the typical strip mall, presenting it as a living ecosystem where every shopper and vehicle contributes to the overall environment. “It’s teeming with fauna,” she explained, highlighting the presence of day laborers at entrances, local tamale vendors, and individuals collecting cans and bottles, all depicted alongside whimsical elements like “people gathering ‘sticks for their nests.’”
The narrative is brought to life through a combination of puppetry, live camera work, projections, and sound, creating a dynamic performance that she describes as a “handmade animation” unfolding in real-time. “It’s kind of funny to me, too, the contrast of all of these high-tech cameras, computer systems, projectors and then just cardboard,” Frohardt said, noting that much of her material was sourced directly from the Home Depot and nearby areas.
“It’s a show made of itself, for sure,” she added, emphasizing the self-referential nature of her creation.
A Universal Environment
Frohardt believes that the charm of urban life is often found in its small businesses, bars, and restaurants, while chain stores like Home Depot fail to convey any real sense of community. “We’re covering every town in these places that could be anywhere, which makes them feel like nowhere. They’re just these vast oceans of beige,” she lamented, expressing how such environments can lead to a sense of disconnection.
In her previous work, she personalized her display by including local products, such as H-E-B goods and barbecue sauce during her Austin exhibit of The Plastic Bag Store. However, for this new show, she feels that personalization is not necessary.
“I think it’s a universal feeling… We all are living in the exact same environment and it’s just de-interest-ifying the country,” she reflected. “You’ll definitely think about this show the next time you’re in a place like that.”
