Laos Banknote, contemporary artist Santiago Montoya use of paper money.

Banknote from Laos used by artist Santiago Montoya in some of his works. Santiago is making us look at the aesthetic and the material aspects of money. He realizes the bills are the only material necessary to create a story, he starts to drive his exploration of the bill even further towards the ultimate consequence—to the point of physical obliteration. He started by questioning the political and he has ended up focusing on the economic system itself. A spot-on satire of the nature of art and financial power, Montoya has opted to unearth the largely anti-humanistic values hiding behind its richest, shiniest, artiest effects.