Forget Me Not: Beautiful new takes on still life from the Dutch Golden Age

Of course, the traditional floral paintings displayed the era's wealth and cornucopia, and the genre’s vanitas paintings also highlighted the existential crisis created by material excess. The show, which begins 24 March, looks at how contemporary photographers and painters are reinterpreting traditional still life in order to create fresh narratives for the 21st century.

Featured artists include Heiko Hellwig, Olaf Hajek, Isabelle Menin, René Twigge and Daniel Thurau. Although their works all take inspiration from the coming spring, the artists approach still life in very different ways. René Twigge’s works represent the meeting of nature and digital technology, whilst others draw inspiration from movements as diverse as Rococo and Surrealism.

Describing his work, Daniel Thurau said: "The themes and symbols I use are not the most important aspects of my art. They merely help to convey the sensations. They come from the collective subconscious and give viewers a point of reference to become immersed in the artwork in their own way. I try to reconcile elitism and popular culture by being honest with both and using humour as a connecting link between them."

Forget Me Not runs from 24 March until 22 April 2017 at the LUMAS gallery on South Molton Street, Mayfair, London.

All images courtesy of LUMAS | Main image: I'll be your summer 03 © Isabelle Menin, www.lumas.com