N.Z. cartoonist exhibiting

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 10

N.Z. cartoonist exhibiting

John Kent, one of the “colony” of New Zealand and Australian cartoonists working in Fleet Street, has been honoured with a monthlong exhibition of his work at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts, reports the London correspondent of “The Press.” Mr Kent, who was bom at Oamaru, draws a weekly political strip cartoon called "Varoomshka” for the “Guardian,” and a biting political satire called “Grocer Heath” for the fortnightly satirical magazine, “Private Eye.” The “Guardian” strip is featured in the I.C.A. exhibition. “Varoomshka” is an extremely shapely and scantily clad young lady who seems to have a privileged secretarial position in Britain’s corridors of power. She is seen taking down the Wilson memoirs, and noting Mr Heath’s latest musings. Mr Kent spent a year devising the strip, and it was accepted by the “Guardian” at the end of 1969. It has built up a very enthusk astic and faithful following —even, it seems, among the politicians who appear in it. The cartoonist was amazed to find that Mr Reginald Maudling, the former Ho.me Secretary who was mercilessly lampooned in the strip as a zombie in a sleeping cap, was to attend the opening of his exhibition. A “Varoomshka” book has also been published, containing favourite strips selected by the artist, and it should be available in New Zealand soon. Now that Britain is to join

the Common Market, Mr Kent plans to introduce more European characters, and he says there are plans to produce a European edition of the “Varoomshka” book if this one succeeds.