Across Southeast Asia and the global urban art landscape, few silhouettes are as instantly recognisable as the bold, expressive apes brought to life by Katun. Hailing from Malaysia, Katun has carved out a distinctive space as a graffiti artist, illustrator, and toy designer, establishing himself as one of the region’s most influential creative forces. From founding his own brand, 4 Stages, to collaborations with global names like Vans, Marshall, Samsung, and Sony (as well as creating album artwork for Chris Brown with Young Thug and promotional graffiti for Post Malone), Katun’s visual identity pulses with raw street culture and electric imagination.
When it comes to originating his distinct aesthetic, Katun’s creative impulses are rooted entirely in the rhythm of his surroundings.
“No matter what I'm drawing, people always ask me the same thing: ‘How do I do it? What's my creative process?’” Katun reflects. “Well, honestly, it's usually just random ideas in my head. But sometimes, I also scroll around Pinterest and the internet. For me, being out here in the middle of the city is exactly where the ideas come from. Creativity is everywhere if you pay attention.”
Capturing that spontaneous spark and translating it onto a massive concrete wall requires tools that adapt fluidly to how an artist works.
XPPen has just launched the Magic Pro 13, a professional all-scenario drawing pad built to support artists at every stage of their workflow. It was recently honoured with four “Best of IFA 2026” awards from TechRadar, Yanko Design, Android Headlines and Gadgety Awards. To mark the global launch, XPPen spoke to Katun about his creative journey and a recent character crossover project that brings his signature ape together with XPPen’s mascot Fenix. He also shared the role intuitive creative technology plays in his evolving workflow.
Shifting seamlessly between mobile freedom and studio performance
For artists working across both street art and digital illustration, projects naturally shift between rough conceptual drafting and detailed studio execution. The Magic Pro 13 addresses this dual workflow with a versatile 2-in-1 design, seamlessly bridging on-the-go mobility and full-scale studio production.
Powered by the industry-first, hardware-level Drawing Display Mode, the device connects directly to a PC via a single full-featured USB-C cable, driving the screen directly from the computer without relying on software streaming.
“When I'm working on the initial design for a graffiti piece, I often start the sketch on the tablet at home,” Katun explains. “Then, when I come to the studio, I can effortlessly plug it into my PC to finalise the details.”
Back at the desk, the device seamlessly shifts to become the anchor of his entire studio workflow:
“Having a Magic Pro 13 is like having both a standalone drawing tablet and a professional drawing display,” Katun notes. “Most tablet PCs out there are just like sketchbooks, in that artists can't really use them for heavy-duty projects. But with drawing display mode, this won’t be a problem anymore.”
Capture and organise spontaneous ideas on the go
Equipped with built-in 8MP front and 13MP rear cameras, the Magic Pro 13 lets creators instantly capture real-world scenes, prospective backdrops, and visual references wherever inspiration strikes.
Running on Android 16, it seamlessly channels that raw inspiration into an intuitive creative ecosystem, where the lightweight Canvas app offers an instant space for sketching ideas on the fly, while the Shelf app keeps all your visual assets organised with smart search, tagging, and annotations. Together with handy features like Quick Draw with Screen Off, Freeform Windowing, and Screenshot Doodle, referencing, drafting, and multitasking become completely effortless.
Getting into the zone with paper-like drawing and fluid response
When working on initial character sketches, a pen-on-paper feel is essential for Katun to find his rhythm.
“For me, the feeling of paper when sketching helps me get into the zone,” Katun explains. “With this tablet, I don’t even need a screen protector because the screen already comes with that paper feel.”
To deliver that tactile resistance directly under the pen, the Magic Pro 13 pairs a crisp 3K 120Hz display with AG+AF nano-etched glass.
That seamless control carries through to the strokes themselves. The Magic Pro 13 comes equipped with the X4 Smart Chip Stylus, combining a power-efficient chip, an optimised sensor, and a bullet-shaped nib with 16K pressure levels, a 2g initial activation force, and 60° tilt support for fast, stable, and precise strokes. For Katun, that immediate responsiveness keeps his creative momentum completely uninterrupted:
“Another thing I love about this tablet is the stylus,” Katun emphasises. “There’s no lag at all when I’m using it. With some of the previous styluses I used, the line was slow to catch up when I sketched. But this one doesn’t do that. It’s very smooth and easy to set up.”
From Digital Canvas to Street Graffiti
Translating a digital sketch onto an expansive public wall requires effortless mobility and dependable reference tools. At just 6.65mm thick and 655g, the Magic Pro 13 is a natural fit for outdoor paint sites, pairing a massive 10,200mAh battery and 45W PD fast charging for long creative sessions. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8300 chip, it effortlessly handles diverse demands, whether for creative work or entertainment.
Katun put this workflow into practice during a character crossover project with XPPen, pairing his signature ape with XPPen’s mascot Fenix:
“I found XPPen's Fenix character online and found it interesting,” Katun explains. “I felt like switching it into my own version and pairing it with my signature ape. I'm pretty excited to see how it turns out.”
After finalising the concept on the tablet, he took the device directly to the wall to guide his spray-paint application.
“When I'm out doing graffiti, having a light, portable tablet really helps me,” Katun says. “I can easily refer to my sketch on the screen and estimate the size of the piece before I start painting.”
Stay hungry, enjoy the process
Throughout his evolution as a visual artist, Katun’s advice to fellow creators remains focused on keeping curiosity alive and staying observant:
“My personal advice for aspiring artists is to go out and explore the world around you,” Katun reflects. “Don’t be afraid to create whatever you want to create. There are no boundaries in creating something unique. Be proud of yourself. Stay hungry, and always enjoy the process.”
Where creative instinct meets digital freedom
For Katun, creativity is not about confining art to a single medium, but maintaining momentum wherever inspiration strikes.
A great tool works in quiet harmony with the creative process. When a digital canvas adapts effortlessly to any environment by shifting from a sudden spark of inspiration on the move to long hours of focused detail work, the screen fades into the background, leaving pure artistic instinct to take center stage.
Katun’s journey and his experience with the Magic Pro 13 highlight XPPen’s ongoing support for artists wherever their curiosity takes them, while inspiring creators everywhere to step outside, explore the world around them, express their ideas freely, and keep creating.
Launching globally on October 27, the XPPen Magic Pro 13 is priced at $999 USD, with a special launch offer now available at $899 USD. For creators looking to elevate their workflow, it offers a seamless bridge between mobility and professional performance. (pricing and promotional offers may vary by region).
