Politically-charged and challenging, guerrilla art is often thought of as being synonymous with the type of street art created by Banksy et al, though it can also take the form of theater performances, film projections or photography. Though the festival features artists working in a range of media, photography seems to provide a focal point for this year’s BAC. Arte de guerrilla III, now on display at Galería Hartmann, features the work of nine artists, including travel photographer Teresa Zafón’s metaphoric representations of a hostile world, Eulalia Rosas’ moving portraits of Islamic women in both Eastern and Western countries and fashion designer Ricardo Ramos’ collaboration with German photographer Patrick Jost, a study of femininity inspired by historical figures such as Russian author Lou Andreas-Salomé and Hungarian serial killer the Countess of Esced.

At the Corretger 5 gallery, photography duo EskenaienCursiva, Mariano G and various others combine in Jesus, I/Guerrilla Starz of the Sea, an eclectic display touching upon religion, death, prostitution and more, on display until December 9^th. The final exhibition of the cycle opens on December 13^th at Galería Valid Foto BCN, running until the festival closes on December 30^th. Entitled Madrid-Barcelona in 3.8 seconds, the exposition unites thirteen projects, including Ana Nieto’s series of self-portraits titled Alter Ego and Xavier Roldan’s explorations of the intersections between daily routine and publicity.

Moving beyond the boundaries of pure art, guerrilla art becomes a form of activism, forging its way into the reality of its observer and giving rise to a new language of social commentary. Though the pieces here are hung in galleries rather than daubed on walls, this is the mindset in which they have been curated, encouraging thought, discussion and maybe even action.

Until December 30

GALERÍA HARTMANN. C/ Santa Teresa, 8 (Gràcia)

CORRETGER5. C/ Corretger, 5 (Born)

GALERÍA VALID FOTO BCN. C/ Buenaventura Muñoz, 6 (Poble Nou)

bacfestival.com