The Great Swindle

The Great Swindle (2007-ongoing) looks at paper money as a platform of political propaganda, exploiting iconic pictures to bolster power and embed imagery in the national consciousness. The series journeys through history exploring iconography and idealism across a cultural spectrum, from model planes and boats inspired by Communist China's food coupons of the 1950s and 1960s to portraits of fallen dictators. On a formal level, Montoya perfects his fabrication process, using artworks meticulously constructed of banknotes as aesthetic representations of his research and keen observation. In 2016 - 2017, The Great Swindle is reprised as a major institutional show curated by José Luis Falconi at the Art Museum of the Americas.

Close-up of hands on ''25% Cotton 75% Linen'', sculpture made of bleached sheets of paper money by artist Santiago Montoya at the Art Museum of the Americas in Washington D.C.

Close-up on rolled up dollar sheets used by artist Santiago Montoya in his works.

The General in His Labyrinth, by Contemporary Colombian artist Santiago Montoya.

View of work of art ''The General and his labyrinth'' via the side of work of art ''Let´s do the numbers'' by artist Santiago Montoya

Work of art ''Maquette for a dream - ship'' by artist Santiago Montoya, made of shredded currency. It is a ship floating on a sea made of shredded currency.

Close-up on Abraham Lincoln's face on 5$ bill, one of the paper money used by artist Santiago Montoya.

Work of art ''US Flag'' made of money by artist Santiago Montoya and exhibited at the Art Museum of the Americas in Washington D.C.

Close-up on ''Tally Sticks'', part of the exhibition ''Missteps and other paths''at Espacio El Dorado during ArtBo 2017, a sculpture made of wood and paper money by artist Santiago Montoya.

Work of art ''The Sweetest Perfection'' by artist Santiago Montoya.

Set of works ''Let's do the numbers'' series, made with paper money by artist Santiago Montoya

Work of art ''Waiting For Superman'' by artist Santiago Montoya.

Work of art ''Fly Away Reloaded'', painting by artist Santiago Montoya.

Work of art ''Worthy'' is a painting by artist Santiago Montoya. He takes visual elements from the currency (money) and enlarge them.

Work of art ''See no Evil 2'' by artist Santiago Montoya and part of ''The Great Swindle'' series, is made of cut-out zeros from a variety of banknotes.

Close-up on the laser cut banknotes used for the work of art ''See no evil'' from ''The Great Swindle'' by artist Santiago Montoya. The work of art is made of cut-out zeros from various banknotes.

Work of art ''The Great Swindle'' made of money from ''The Great Swindle'' series by artist Santiago Montoya.

Close-up on one of artist Santiago Montoya's hand, picking from his various stacks of hand-cut banknotes.

Work of art ''Queen of Hearts'' by artist Santiago Montoya and part of ''The Great Swindle'' series, is made of paper money from the United Kingdom having Queen Elizabeth II in the center.

Work of art ''Go West II'' from ''The Great Swindle'' series by artist Santiago Montoya using money and acrylic paint.

Work of art ''Fish and ships'' from ''The Great Swindle'' series by contemporary Colombian artist Santiago Montoya.

Work of art ''Fly Away'' from ''The Great Swindle'' series by artist Santiago Montoya using money and acrylic paint.

Work of art ''One thousand and one'' from ''The Great Swindle'' series by artist Santiago Montoya. It is made of money using the 1000 pesos from Colombia and shows Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Ayala.

Work of art ''Car with antenna'' from ''The Great Swindle'' series by artist Santiago Montoya is a painting of a car that looks like a Ford Mustang. Taken from a Chinese Oil coupon.

Close-up on the 1000 pesos Colombian banknote used for ''One thousand and one'' from ''The Great Swindle'' series by artist Santiago Montoya. It is made of money using the 1000 pesos from Colombia and shows Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Ayala.

It is a work of art made with paper money by artist Santiago Montoya titled ''Blah''.

Work of art ''Fishing for lost memories'' from the ''Improbable landscapes'' series, is a painting by artist Santiago Montoya.