Lifestyle
A Stroke Of Genius: Inside The Colourful Mind Of Katun, Malaysia's Up-And-Coming Graffiti Artist
For many of us, cartoons are an essential element growing up. Some of our personality traits may have even been shaped by the animations we watch.
For Abdul Hafiz Abdul Rahman, who was born in Kuala Lumpur but raised in Kajang, cartoons have impacted his life on a whole other level.
Cartoons had become the subject that allowed him to hone his skills in drawing, earning him the nickname 'Katun' amongst his friends in high school.
“All of my friends in class enjoyed watching me draw and sometimes they would even request a sketch as well — even to draw on the table,” he said with a laugh.
A serious business
The name Katun has stuck with him since — even as he continues to climb up the ladder of success and reach new heights.
He took to exploring the artistic world and had gone on to pursue the field more seriously. Katun graduated with a diploma from Universiti Teknologi MARA Melaka (UiTM) and earned his degree from UiTM Shah Alam — both in Art and Design.
His initial focus on illustrations back then set his path in the industry.
Today, Katun is a renowned graffiti artist and illustrator.
This line of work appeals to him particularly because it grants him the world of freedom in creating what he has in mind.
“It’s like an expression of my inner self through my art,” he explained.
Taking the road less travelled
There is a witty saying that made rounds in the Asian circle which goes, “You can either become a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer or a disgrace.”
Naturally, taking the road less travelled would raise a few eyebrows. Katun experienced his fair share of this phenomenon when opting to dive into the arts.
“In the beginning, they were not too keen on it and worried that it would be a bit hard to survive as an artist in the world out there.
“However, I tried my best to break all boundaries and prove to them that I would make something out of myself through my art,” he elaborated.
Spray of genius
Graffiti is, undeniably, Katun’s forte. He made waves and continues to make waves through this form of visual communication.
Katun is aware that “most people know me from creating graffiti based art.” His graffiti skills have been engaged by many across the globe.
Image credit: Instagram/katun_
Looking back, it was somewhere around 2005 or 2006 that he graced the back of an alley in Kajang with his first graffiti. Enjoying the moment with his friends made that episode an unforgettable one.
Furthermore, he noted, “That is where everything started.”
Of course, nothing came easy. On top of the whole 'career choice' debacle, Katun had to also deal with Malaysian authorities and the community who perceived graffiti as vandalism.
“I think at that time it was still a bit hard for them to accept the artform — maybe because it was still new at the time. However, there were a few pioneers of the artform in Malaysia before but the exposure and acceptance from the public were still lacking as they assumed it was vandalism.
“But as you can see now, all the colourful and amazing art around the city is created by many of the talented local graffiti artists. It is really nice to be able to see both authorities and the community appreciating the artform of graffiti today,” he said.
Image credit: Instagram/katun_
Bee from the District Shop Gallery in Jalan Cheras (which presents itself as not only a gallery but also, a street boutique) is Katun’s mentor.
“He is the person who has taught me all about graffiti.”
Katun also looks up to Dato’ Lat as he sets out to expand his art beyond the Malaysian borders. Katun also cited that his friends, as well as famous artists on social media around the globe, serve as inspirations for him too.
The power of Katun
Making something out of himself through his art is exactly what he did.
Katun’s feats have been nothing short of impressive. It was when he was granted the opportunity to create a graffiti piece at a local store that it occurred to him that he is making it in this industry.
Image credit: Instagram/katun_
It was also when he learned how to draw using a Wacom tablet from his friend. He has come a long way since.
“I am very thankful for my journey so far. To be honest, there’s a lot of awesome achievements that I couldn’t imagine before,” he revealed.
From designing the cover art for Chris Brown to creating a graffiti mural piece for Post Malone and Dua Lipa, Katun can proudly say he has done them all.
Image credit: Instagram/katun_
While there are many brilliant musicians with whom he would like to collaborate with, Katun specifically mentioned Travis Scott as one he would love to add to the list.
His fantastic achievements are not just confined to the entertainment world. He had the chance to create his own signature limited edition Montana Colours cans. The website states that there are only 500 pieces available in the world.
(Fun fact: Katun is the first in South East Asia to have been honoured with the opportunity. How cool is that?)
Image credit: Instagram/katun_
Katun has also been entrusted by many big brands who seek his charm to customise their goods.
He has customised pairs of Nike Air Force 1 with Tealive traits and has applied his magic touch on the New Era artist series cap too.
Image credit: Instagram/katun_
His latest collab, he told us, was with audio giant JBL, where he unleashed a new dimension with his customisation of JBL equipment.
Being the musicophile and cinephile that he is, the collaboration was certainly a super exciting experience for him!
“They’ve given me the freedom to create what I love to do and that does make me happy when there’s no restriction — so thank you, guys!”
Image credit: Instagram/katun_
Collaborating with an audio brand was something Katun loved doing, because he feels that art and music kinda intersects in a way.
“It’s a combination. I would always use music as inspiration and it’s the momentum and the energy that gets me going when I create art,” he told us, adding that he loves a good beat.
“When I work, I usually go for tunes that include beatboxing or drum & bass or lo-fi.”
Image credit: Instagram/katun_
Venturing into the NFT world
Recently, Katun made headlines with the success of his debut NFT collection on Superfarm, a cryptocurrency platform.
His two non-fungible token (NFT) collections sold for over RM1.6 million (USD401,000) in an impressive record time.
The limited-edition ‘Apes Stand Strong’ of 50 pieces was sold out in just 30 minutes, whilst 776 pieces of the open edition ‘Mystical Fruits’ were sold within 24 hours.
Image credit: Instagram/katun_
Speaking on the great accomplishment, Katun said he couldn't have done it without his manager's help.
“I think the key success to my NFT project was based on the persistence and effort of my manager. He pursued this project for almost nine months non-stop.
"He was very passionate about getting me into the NFT space and we chose the best strategic partner — Superfarm. We worked great together with amazing synergy. I also think we launched at the perfect time as well which plays a key role in the success of it all," he beamed.
And here's the good news: Katun confirmed that he's here to stay in the NFT world.
"Yes, I am now into the NFT world and I will do my best to keep pumping out great NFT’s for everyone to enjoy, so definitely more to come,” he laughed.
Making wonders
These days, Katun’s typical day includes the compulsory consumption of coffee and getting his creative juice flowing through drawing.
He turns to his wife and cats when boredom strikes. Eventually, he said, “I’d always come back to drawing again.”
He admits that he has a strong passion for drawing and simply, laughing.
Image credit: Instagram/katun_
When asked about his thought process when working on his art, Katun said he finds inspiration in almost anything.
“It will always start with an idea — it can be from music, surroundings or movies. From that, I will always take notes on what I’ve discovered — this is a condensed point form of what I do but essentially, it’s also dependent on what I’m creating regardless of the medium I am using.”
Image credit: Instagram/katun_
Apes are Katun’s signature element because “it is a representation of my inner self and what is in my mind — using a primates world.”
In his description of his artistic style, Katun stated, “It’s aggressive and calm like the yin & yang, but it also depends on what I want to deliver.”
We’d say that the 35-year-old is proof that those in the arts, too, can make it big. And so, of course, we had to ask about his opinion on those who diminish the importance of art as well as those who discourage others from pursuing arts, citing concerns that it doesn’t bring about job security.
Katun’s response is simple: “Read the news about all the successful artists out there. This includes the huge successes and monetary gains that artists have made with their art — that’s self-explanatory.”
Mastering the trade
Throughout his years in the industry, the biggest misconception he encounters is that “Making art is easy. You just need to draw.”
Well, Katun begs to differ.
It really isn’t that simple. To come up with a solid idea and then create the concept of the artwork is part of the major challenge in what he does. Often, there is more to an art piece than meets the eye. The skills, effort and hard work put into it tend to be overlooked.
Image credit: Instagram/katun_
While it is a tough venture, Katun reminds those who are just getting started in finding their creative pursuit to “just have fun in what you are doing. Don’t pressure yourself! Always believe in the process of making art.”
Trusting the process and making it happen are pivotal according to Katun as he believes these are the qualities one must possess to succeed in the artistic field.
“There are no shortcuts to achieving something that is good! And always be happy in what you are doing.”
His advice is a reflection of who he is. Katun reiterated the fact that he enjoys laughing and simply being happy.
Image credit: Instagram/katun_
Besides enjoying everything you create, Katun also advises those who seek to follow in his footsteps to always be hungry to get to the next level.
Katun’s life principle, which is to “just be kind to one another,” is also exemplary.
The experience he gained had further strengthened his confidence in local artists. Katun genuinely believes that Malaysia does not lack talents.
“Honestly speaking, we are actually on the same level compared to the rest of the world. I think we just need to expose our art on every platform, to always have a good management and team. That is my personal thoughts because we have many incredible great artists here in Malaysia.”
The next chapter
Image credit: Instagram/katun_
Katun fans, rejoice! We got news from the man himself that he envisions more collaborations and exhibition shows in the future. He is serious about taking the brand to a bigger stage.
Katun is also driven to continue striving for excellence with the motivation from his family and those who believe in him.
And for that, he has a message: “Thank you to those who have supported me since day one. All of the achievements I’ve garnered are dedicated to you guys! More to come from us for sure!”
Stay updated on Katun’s journey through:
Facebook: @itskatun
Twitter: Katun Visual
Instagram: @katun_
Discord: katun_