Kamagurka (Luc Zeebroek, b. 1956): Belgian Master of Absurd Art

Luc Zeebroek (born 5 May 1956), better known by his pen name Kamagurka, is a multifaceted Belgian cartoonist, comic strip artist, playwright, painter, comedian, singer, author, and television producer. Famous for his surreal and absurd sense of humor, Kamagurka has carved out a distinctive niche in the world of European satire since the early 1970s. Over five decades, he has remained an innovative and provocative force in Belgian culture, pushing boundaries in visual art, comic literature, performance, and music. Best known for the offbeat comic strip Cowboy Henk, a long-running collaboration with Herr Seele, and for his solo creation Bert, Kamagurka is widely regarded as a pioneer of absurdist art.

Infobox: Kamagurka (Luc Zeebroek)

Field	Details
Name	Kamagurka (Luc Zeebroek)
Born	5 May 1956
Birthplace	Nieuwpoort, Belgium
Nationality	Belgian
Occupations	Cartoonist, Comic Artist, Painter, Writer, TV Producer, Comedian, Musician
Known For	Bert, Cowboy Henk
Style	Absurd humor, Surrealism
Notable Works	Cowboy Henk, Bert, Kamalmanak, Accidentalism
Awards	Bronzen Adhemar (1978), Stripschapprijs (1993), Angoulême Prize for Inheritance (2014), Inktspotprijs (2021), and others
Active Years	1972–present
Collaborators	Herr Seele
Children	1 (Boris Zeebroek aka Bolis Pupul)

Early Life and Education

Luc Zeebroek was born on 5 May 1956 in Nieuwpoort, a sleepy seaside town on the Belgian coast. Growing up in a modest family, he was exposed to the unvarnished realities of daily life, which would later influence his absurd and sometimes provocative style. From an early age, he demonstrated a fascination with drawing and storytelling, often scribbling bizarre characters in the margins of his schoolbooks, to the amusement—and sometimes confusion—of his teachers. He was particularly drawn to the surreal and grotesque, fascinated by the idea of confronting normalcy with nonsense.

He studied art at secondary schools in Bruges, where his unconventional ideas began to set him apart. Seeking more formal training, he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent, one of Belgium’s most prestigious art schools. However, he quickly grew disillusioned with the rigid academic approach to art instruction. Kamagurka felt the institution failed to nurture individual expression and risk-taking, values that would become central to his creative philosophy. Ultimately, he left the academy before completing his studies.

A defining moment in his artistic awakening came during a school trip to Paris. Intrigued by the satirical magazine Hara Kiri, known for its anarchic humor and taboo-breaking cartoons, Kamagurka decided to visit its editorial office uninvited. He was warmly received and mesmerized by the chaotic, free-spirited environment. He began making regular visits—every two weeks, staying for several days at a time—immersing himself in their radical artistic process. These formative interactions with French surrealists, cartoonists, and provocateurs became his self-declared true education, an experience far more influential than any formal schooling. Kamagurka later credited these visits as the spiritual foundation for his lifelong dedication to absurdist art and satire.

Career

Early Breakthrough in Cartooning

Kamagurka’s professional cartooning career began in 1972 with contributions to the local newspaper De Zeewacht, a modest start that would soon escalate into national recognition. By 1975, he had secured a prominent position as the house cartoonist for the influential Belgian weekly HUMO, marking a major breakthrough. His early work—heavily inspired by underground artists like Robert Crumb, Roland Topor, and the provocative French magazine Hara Kiri—deliberately eschewed conventional humor in favor of graphic absurdity, social satire, and visual anarchy.

At the time, Belgian cartoon culture was largely traditional, and Kamagurka’s bizarre style—filled with grotesque figures, surreal juxtapositions, and illogical gags—was jarringly unfamiliar to readers. The editorial offices of HUMO were soon inundated with furious letters from outraged subscribers, many of whom labeled his work as vulgar, nihilistic, or simply incomprehensible. However, this vocal backlash only cemented his status as a cult icon, particularly among younger readers eager to dismantle establishment sensibilities.

In addition to HUMO, Kamagurka’s cartoons began to gain traction internationally. His unorthodox humor resonated with the avant-garde and underground press across Europe and beyond. One of his standout solo creations is Bert, a bizarre, featureless man often portrayed in existentially absurd or minimalist scenarios. Bert’s blank stare, deadpan delivery, and non-sequitur punchlines perfectly embodied Kamagurka’s dedication to the irrational.

The character became a Belgian cult classic and was often seen as a commentary on the absurdity of modern existence. Kamagurka’s comics found homes in an eclectic mix of respected publications, from Playboy, Esquire, and RAW in the United States to Charlie Hebdo, Hara Kiri, The Spectator, and The New Yorker. His growing reputation as a visual trickster and intellectual absurdist helped pave the way for absurdist comics across continental Europe.

Cowboy Henk

In 1981, Kamagurka joined forces with artist Herr Seele to create the wildly surreal comic strip Cowboy Henk. Kamagurka wrote the gags and scripts while Herr Seele handled the illustrations. The strip blended absurd humor with nonsensical storylines and grotesque imagery, quickly becoming a landmark in European comic culture. Its success earned it international recognition and a dedicated readership across Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and France. In 2014, Cowboy Henk was honored with the prestigious Angoulême Prize for Inheritance, cementing its status as a modern comic classic.

Multimedia Expansion and Television

Kamagurka’s creative pursuits extended into radio and television. He collaborated with Herr Seele on several cult television programs including Lava, Wees blij met wat je hebt, Johnnywood, and Bob en George. On radio, they co-hosted Studio Kafka and Kamagurkistan, mixing sketch comedy, music, and social satire. Kamagurka became a familiar face and voice on Flemish and Dutch media, known for his deadpan delivery and penchant for absurdity.

In the 2000s, he became a weekly contributor to the late-night Flemish talk show De Laatste Show, where he presented surreal skits and commentary. He also toured regularly with theatrical comedy shows such as #HAHAHA, a hybrid performance blending stand-up, visual art, and existential rambling.

Music, Theater, and Children’s Media

Kamagurka has long dabbled in music. In the 1980s, he founded the band Kamagurka en de Vlaamse Primitieven, releasing satirical singles such as “Constant Degoutant”, “Marjoleintje”, and the controversial “Weg met Boudewijn. Leve Fabiola”, which was banned from Belgian national radio. In 2000, he released a new album titled Oh Sabrina, wat heb je met mijn snor gedaan?, which included tracks like “Nee, mijn lief: je bent niet te dik”.

He also authored a children’s story and wrote two plays that were staged by the NTG in Ghent. His satirical approach often carried over into his theatrical productions, which mixed humor with philosophical and social themes.

Visual Art and Accidentalism

By the early 2000s, Kamagurka began focusing more intensively on painting and conceptual art. In 2008, he launched the Kamalmanak project, producing one painting per day for an entire leap year—a total of 366 works. Sponsored by businessman and art collector Marc Coucke, the project was both a creative challenge and a philosophical statement. The paintings explored themes ranging from cubism and pop-art to self-parody and art history references.

While filming short art documentaries for NRC TV, Kamagurka invented a new movement called Accidentalism. He would paint imaginary portraits and then ask strangers to identify real-life people they resembled. Astonishingly, people often pointed out striking resemblances and backed them up with photographs, creating a surreal feedback loop between fiction and reality.

He continued with projects like Veluxart, in which he painted themes seen from his roof window, and the Spiegeleipaintings, featuring variations of chickens on fried eggs. In other works, he reinterpreted classic masterpieces in his trademark style—for example, his version of Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe became Déjeuner sous l’herbe. His controversial portrait of Queen Beatrix with a five o’clock shadow garnered media attention for its playful commentary on time and transformation.

Personal Life

Kamagurka is married and has a son, Boris Zeebroek, known by his stage name Bolis Pupul, who is an accomplished musician. Kamagurka is a longtime fan and board member of the football club KV Oostende. He designed the team’s mascot and remains actively involved, although he was once banned from the stadium for three months after invading the pitch during a game.

Honors and Awards

• Bronzen Adhemar (1978)
• Louis Paul Boon Prize (1978)
• Humo’s Pop Poll – Best Cartoonist (1978–2010)
• Geuzenprijs (1985)
• Stripschapprijs (Netherlands, 1993)
• Press Cartoon Prize Belgium (2001)
• Sondermann Bernd-Pfarr-Sonderpreis (Germany, 2009)
• Angoulême Prize for Inheritance (France, 2014)
• Inktspotprijs (Netherlands, 2021)

Trivia and Legacy

• Since 1978, Kamagurka won HUMO‘s annual “Best Graphic Artist” poll every year until 2010, when he was surpassed by Jonas Geirnaert.
• In Marc Sleen’s comic The Adventures of Nero, the character Colonel Kamagurka was named after him.
• The Dutch hip-hop group Osdorp Posse sampled one of his Kamiel Kafka sketches in their track “Sam Sam.”

Kamagurka’s work continues to challenge artistic norms with boldness, whimsy, and philosophical depth. Whether through visual art, performance, comics, or radio, he maintains a unique voice in European avant-garde culture. His tireless creativity, fusion of media, and exploration of the absurd affirm his place as one of the most original minds in modern Belgian and international art.

FAQ about Kamagurka

Q1: Who is Kamagurka, and what is he known for? 

A1: Kamagurka, whose real name is Luc Zeebroek, is a multi-talented Belgian artist known for his work as a cartoonist, playwright, comic strip artist, painter, comedian, comedic singer, and television producer. He is renowned for the absurd and shocking nature of his artistic creations.

Q2: What notable comic strip character did Kamagurka create? 

A2: Kamagurka is the creator of “Bert,” one of his most well-known comic strip characters.

Q3: Who is Herr Seele, and how did Kamagurka collaborate with him?

A3: Herr Seele is a collaborator of Kamagurka. Together, they created the comic strip “Cowboy Henk,” with Kamagurka responsible for writing the jokes while Seele handled the drawings.

Q4: What other artistic endeavors has Kamagurka pursued? 

A4: Besides his comic work, Kamagurka is involved in painting and theater throughout Flanders and The Netherlands. He has also ventured into music, releasing singles and albums.

Q5: What is the significance of Kamagurka’s “Accidentalism” art movement? 

A5: Kamagurka introduced the “Accidentalism” art movement, where he created portraits based on how he perceived people and then asked others to identify the likeness. This unique approach added an element of humor and unpredictability to his art.

Q6: Has Kamagurka received any awards for his work? 

A6: In 1985, Kamagurka received the Geuzenprijs (Geuzen Prize) for his entire artistic oeuvre.

Q7: Is there an interesting fact about Kamagurka’s connection to KV Oostende? 

A7: Kamagurka is a long-time fan of the football squad KV Oostende and even designed the club’s mascot. However, in 2009, he received a stadium prohibition of three months for entering the playing field during a game in March 2009.