Betrayal and concealment are words applied to Mika Horibuchi’s deceptively masterful paintings at 55 Walker, which replicate her grandmother’s amateur watercolors. At first glance, triangular tabs appear to be adhered to the surface to hold up a printed photo. A closer look reveals that they, like the ‘photo,’ are meticulously painted. The cat image is a rendition of a printed snapshot sent to the artist in Chicago by her grandmother in Japan, who has taken up painting later in life. A nearby display case shows the original snapshots along with other photos, drawings, and more. Here, the professional mimics the hobbyist, but the work conveys respect and consideration. (On view in Tribeca through March 26th).
