BERLIN, GERMANY.- VOLTAshow and Zoo Art Fair announce the second phase of Contemporary Affair, a unique collaboration between the two art fairs. The presentation in 2007 will once again draw on the organizations’ joint expertise and experience to present an exciting focused selection of art organizations, this time from the Nordic region.

VOLTAshow is an international art fair that presents the vision of contemporary commercial art galleries of global repute whose artists represent new and relevant positions for curators and collectors alike. Conceived to bridge a gap between Basel's pre-existing fairs, VOLTAshow showcases mature galleries who choose as their mandate to work with the most exciting emerging artists.

Zoo Art Fair is a non-profit, sponsored fair that identifies and supports emerging contemporary art markets by presenting young commercial and non-commercial organisations on the international platform made possible by the success of the Frieze Art Fair. Exhibitors include galleries, project spaces, artist collectives, curatorial groups and publications. Sponsors include established private collectors, galleries, arts businesses and public funding.

Contemporary Affair, Zoo Art Fair and VOLTAshow’s collaboration, was successfully launched with the coselection of young organisations from Berlin, Los Angeles and Mexico City, at Zoo art Fair in London last October. For this second phase, the two fairs will co-curate VOLTAshow’s Special Projects section at the up coming event in Basel, June 2007. The presentation will focus on the Nordic Region, including organizations from Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Spanning emergent and established, commercial and non-commercial spaces, the selection aims to give a representative view of the local market.

The Nordic region has been chosen for its energy and individualism, which began to develop a significant international presence in the late 90’s. The launch of programmes like the Influential IASPIS, artist residency scheme, specifically focused on creating a dialogue between Scandinavian artists and the rest of the art world, added to the existing network of institutions such as Moderna Museet, Sweden or Louisiana Museum, Denmark. A series of high profile Exhibitions were staged across Europe highlighting the work of young Nordic artists. The most significant of these “Nuit Blanche, Scenes nordique: les annees 90”, curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Laurence Bosse, lead to the phrase “Nordic Miracle” being attached to the emerging generation. Alongside this, a significant number of commercial galleries and project spaces have established themselves with internationally renowned programs.