The concept: City Art Center is the brainchild of BKK Arthouse Gallery’s art director Vee Art (also a co-organizer of the recent art festival Bangk(zero)k) and his fellow artiste Edward Squire from Toronto. Using the upper levels of Italian restaurant Italy 24, they both hope to provide a platform for new, no-name artists of all genres and disciplines as well as organize workshops, performances and film screenings for the community.

The décor: Situated on the third floor of the dimly-lit restaurant, City Art Center substitutes the art gallery’s typical white walls for bright red paint and metallic-painted ceilings. The underground industrial feel, which reminds us of the now defunct Rain Dogs, continues through the exposed tubular fluorescent lamps and steel stairs located next to an outdoor balcony reserved for smokers. Vee and Edward are also planning to turn the second floor into an art lounge, where creative, artist type can hang out, have a cup of tea and discuss Georgia O’Keeffe.

The crowd: Right now it’s mostly friends of the artists. But the center aims to spread its arty love to office workers and art enthusiasts in the neighborhood.

In the present: An exhibition titled Eurasian by a group of local and international artists, curated by Edward Squire himself.

In the future: An exhibition by Thailand’s leading gay artists is scheduled for April. Chanun Poomsawai