Brian Palm has announced a new solo art exhibition, called 'Cognitive Dissonance'. It is set to run in The Duke Street Gallery from September 10th until the end of the month. Palm – whose unique style and technique have been developed from what he describes "as a process of trial and error" – was born in Hartford, Connecticut in the U.S. in 1957, and moved to Dublin in 1977, to attend the National College of Art and Design.

Composed of twenty new artworks, all created during the past few months of social isolation, 'Cognitive Dissonance' features paintings of empty street scenes and deserted corners of Dublin City, captured in Brian's mind's eye during that strange period of silence and disquiet.

"'Cognitive Dissonance' is a term," an introduction to the exhibition explains, "which describes the state of discomfort experienced when two or more incompatible modes of thought contradict one another, as in the terms ‘Socially Distant’, or ‘Social Isolation'".

In the exhibition, Brian Palm – who is also a celebrated blues harmonica player – explores a range of complex issues which have surfaced as a result of the extraordinary challenges presented to citizens of the world in 2020, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic – and the reaction to it of both governments and citizens.

"Most of the pictures which comprise the exhibition portray a solitary figure (or two disconnected figures) lost in thought, or perhaps utterly devoid of thought," the introduction adds. "They are marking time in their communities and neighbourhoods during the long days of solitude. Many of the figures are children, and the recurring themes of dislocation and alienation resonate throughout the exhibition."

This pervasive theme of disquiet is reinforced emotionally by the repeated depiction of an abandoned tricycle, a symbol of childhood innocence and freedom left in the street and forgotten after play was interrupted.

The palette employed by Brian Palm is carefully muted in each of the paintings, and counterpointed by an area of bright, intense colour which offers optimism and the promise of emotional relief.

• Visit www.dukestreetgallery.ie for more information.
• Open from September 10th, the exhibition is also part of the Culture Night celebrations in Dublin, which takes place on Friday 18th September, 2020.