Google’s Arts and Culture app comes with one killer trick up its sleeve: the ability to find your fine art likeness just by snapping a selfie. Unfortunately, the Google Art Selfie novelty hasn’t been available in the UK version of the app – until now.
That’s right, selfie fans and art aficionados. The must-have feature of the Google Arts and Culture app is now officially live in the UK, no workaround required.
All you need to do is download the search giant’s Arts and Culture app for Android or iOS, and the most high-brow way to waste time will be right at your fingertips. We re-downloaded the Arts and Culture app just now and the Art Selfie feature was front and centre, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding it when you boot up the app.
After that, simply snap a selfie getting as much of your mug in the frame as possible for a quicker, more accurate match.
Why the delay? Google told us that Art Selfie was first launched “primarily as an experiment” but that the company had now decided to roll it out globally after making a few tweaks.
“We [were] working a lot on a more robust user experience – matching, latency – before opening it up to the world. It makes something old new and relevant, especially to a younger audience,” a Google representative told Trusted Reviews prior to Art Selfie’s UK launch.
If you’re wondering what one looks like, here’s my first #ArtSelfie for your trolling pleasure.
How to use Google’s Art Selfie feature the unofficial way
Previously, we told you about a a simple way to get around the geographic restriction. As is often the case with region-locked features and content, the solution is to use a VPN and repoint your location to the US.
After that, it’s a doddle – you don’t need to re-download the app, or even force an update. Just close Google Arts and Culture before firing up your VPN of choice, reopen it once you’ve tricked your phone into thinking you’re in the States, and scroll down to find the selfie-match feature.
Weused Private Internet Access – one of our recommended VPNs – on an iPhone and found a doppelgänger in the form of Santiago Rusiñol’s ‘Portrait of Carles Mani’.
As you can see, that’s all there is to it, so if you’re not seeing Art Selfie live in Google Arts and Culture just yet where you are, there’s no need to miss out!
Related: Best VPNs
Share your best #ArtSelfie with us on Twitter or Facebook @TrustedReviews.
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Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
