Enfnts Terribles

From Brussels to the mountains of Hanoi: meeting Hmong Culture

It was raining in Brussels the late evening. I went to see Odd Numbers, the exhibition opened at 254 Forest as a part of Photo Brussels Festival 2025. It was loud outside; despite the drizzling rain, a significant crowd gathered around the entrance, unable to fit in the small space, where the photographs were displayed. Straight forward from the entrance, a passage led to the other room with the video installation that thankfully justified all the unpleasant experience of coming from Antwerp and walking by Brussels Midi.

Odd Numbers, the project created by Brussels-based music producer Le Motel, whose work includes sound production for Bottega Veneta,  in collaboration with designer-programmer Antoine Jaunard and Vietnamese poet Phapxa Chan, documents the life of the indigenous Hmong community. In Vietnam, the Hmong are one of the largest ethnic minorities, usually concentrated in mountainous regions. Ethnic groups within the Hmong community can be identified by their dress and are known for their craftwork and ancient traditions.