The Church of the Immaculate Consumption

Praying to Products

a white man with long hair at the top of an escalator with his arms raised

2003 – 05

Shopping is the new religion.

The Church of the Immaculate Consumption was a series of large-scale consumer interventions where groups of people devoted to shopping would pray to the products, the shop, the god of brand. Never with permission these interventions would happen in places like Selfridges, House of Fraser, Harvey Nichols and John Lewis until the service was interrupted by the shop security.

During our biggest act of worship, 50 people prayed in the House of Fraser, Glasgow. After 45 min of groups praying, getting kick out of the shop only to reenter via a different entrance, shop security were forced to close their doors.

The Church of the Immaculate Consumption was featured on BBC 4 and Arte+.