Vancouver-based artist Douglas Coupland on worldwide hunt for Vincent van Gogh lookalike

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      Are you a redhead? Have you been mistaken for a tortured artist?

      If so, Douglas Coupland wants you—or your head, anyway.

      The Vancouver-based writer, artist, and designer is on the hunt for the world’s most uncanny Vincent van Gogh lookalike to serve as the source material for a new piece, and he’s willing to offer the dead-ringer a very generous sum.

      The work in question is a large bronze sculpture commission that will be the first in an ongoing series of outdoor pieces titled “Redheads”. The winning lookalike will have his or her face 3-D–scanned, and the facial data will become the foundation of Coupland’s final two-by-three-metre sculpture, which will depict van Gogh’s head.

      “I’d like it to trigger discussion about new relationships between science, art and globalization,” writes Coupland of the project, which will spotlight “redheadedness”—the state of possessing the rarest of all hair colours, or as the artist so gracefully puts it, the “most recent successful human mutation”.

      In exchange, the stand-in will receive €5,000—that’s approximately CDN$9,404—and be flown with a guest to Vancouver for a “unique experience”. The free flight isn’t much of a treat for Vancouverites, but if you’re lucky enough to take after van Gogh, you’ll have your face—and name—immortalized in bronze.

      So, what exactly did van Gogh look like? Judging from the famed Dutch painter’s self-portraits, a square jaw, sharp cheekbones, and a well-kept ginger beard are key. Bonus points if you don’t mind rocking a straw hat.

      If you think you’re the spitting image of van Gogh—or know someone who might be—visit iamvincent.com and submit a photo for evaluation. You can also hashtag #iamvincent on any relevant selfies on social media.

      Photos will be accepted until midnight on August 26, 2016. You can also vote for your favourite lookalikes online until then.

      Follow Lucy Lau on Twitter @lucylau.

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