Interview
Watceila Varso
Watceilia Varso is a women-in-business entrepreneur in the Healthcare and wellbeing space, and visionary executive with a deep expertise in People & Culture and Neuroplasticity. She has led transformative cultural initiatives globally, shaping executive leadership, strategic business growth, and neuroscience-driven organizational change. As a dynamic entrepreneur, she brings a unique blend of business acumen, innovation, and human-centered leadership to every Endeavor. Beyond her professional achievements, she is a passionate contemporary artist, exploring the interplay of movement, texture, and emotional depth through mixed-media painting and dance. Her artistic journey has led to immersive exhibitions, stage productions like ‘The Door’ at Singapore Repertory Theatre, authored a Brain based book, titled, ‘The Brain’s Betrayal’ and have made several Canvas artwork contributions to The cancer society auction donations. She believes in bridging the worlds of business, neuroscience, and creative expression, demonstrating how leadership and artistry intertwine to inspire transformation.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I began my artistic journey at a very young age, drawn instinctively to movement, expression, and creativity. What started as a childhood passion evolved into a deep and immersive exploration of visual and performing arts. As a neuroplasticity practitioner, classical dancer, and contemporary artist, my work is rooted in transformation, whether through the fluidity of dance, the rewiring of the brain, or the textured depth of mixed-media paintings. Each discipline informs the other, shaping a creative process that merges movement, structure, and emotion. My journey has taken many forms, from choreographing and staging productions like The Door at Singapore Repertory Theatre to contributing my paintings to the Cancer Society auction donations. Whether performing intricate footwork in classical dance or sculpting layers of texture on canvas, I find a rhythm in every medium I touch. This connection between motion and stillness is the essence of my artistic philosophy. My 2025 exhibition ‘The Dance in the Echoes’ embodies this idea, translating movement into form, light into emotion, and transformation into visual storytelling. For me, art, like neuroplasticity, is a journey of discovery, adaptation, and connection. It is about creating new pathways, embracing contrasts, and finding beauty in the unspoken dialogue between movement and stillness. My work invites viewers not just to see, but to feel, to engage with the rhythms hidden within texture, the interplay of color and light, and the ever-evolving dance of life itself.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My work is an exploration of transformation - of the self, of perception, and of the world around us. Rooted in neuroplasticity, movement, and sensory experience, my mixed-media paintings are not just visual expressions but invitations to reflect on the fluidity of life. Through layered textures, shifting light, and rhythmic composition, I aim to evoke emotions that resonate beyond the frame, encouraging viewers to pause, feel, and engage with their own evolving narratives. While my work is not explicitly political, it speaks to universal themes of resilience, adaptation, and identity. I am deeply interested in the unseen forces that shape human experience, whether it be the impact of trauma, the complexities of change, or the silent strength of transformation. My stage productions, such as ‘The Door,’ and my visual compositions often explore the duality of freedom and enclosure, movement and stillness, struggle and growth. In a world that often demands rigid definitions, my work challenges the idea of fixed boundaries. It calls for fluidity, of thought, of emotion, of existence. It is a reflection on how we reconstruct ourselves, much like how the brain forms new pathways, how dance expresses untold emotions, and how textures on canvas tell stories of resilience and reinvention. Ultimately, my work is a dialogue between art and neuroscience, movement and meaning, past and present. It does not dictate answers but invites interpretation, allowing each viewer to find their own rhythm within the echoes of color, form, and light.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“My creative process is a blend of structure and fluidity. Whether in painting, dance, or my work in neuroplasticity, I begin with an intention, a concept, an emotion, or a theme, but I allow the process to guide me. In painting, I often start with a vision of movement, texture, or contrast, inspired by the interplay between structure and transformation. However, as I layer materials, acrylics, modeling paste, gold leaf, resin, the work begins to take on its own rhythm. I embrace unpredictability, allowing each piece to evolve organically, much like the adaptive pathways of the brain. Similarly, in dance, I choreograph with intention, but I leave space for improvisation, trusting the body’s instinctive response to music and emotion. Movement is never static; it is a living expression, shaped by the moment, the energy in the space, and the interplay of discipline and freedom. My work in neuroplasticity follows a similar principle. Whether guiding leaders, organizations, or individuals through transformation, I recognize that true change cannot be rigidly planned, it must allow room for adaptation, reflection, and evolution. Like a painting or a dance, rewiring the mind requires both structure and the freedom to explore new possibilities. This balance between preparation and improvisation is at the heart of everything I create. It mirrors the way life unfolds, not as a strict blueprint, but as a dynamic journey of continuous growth and transformation.”
“My work is an exploration of transformation - of the self, of perception, and of the world around us.”
Are there any art world trends you are following?
“Rather than following trends, I am drawn to movements that align with my philosophy of transformation, movement, and neuroplasticity. I am particularly interested in the rise of sensory and immersive art, works that go beyond passive observation and invite the viewer to engage physically, emotionally, and psychologically. This aligns with my approach to mixed-media painting, where texture, light, and movement create an experience rather than just an image. I also find inspiration in the growing intersection of neuroscience and creative expression. As research into neuroplasticity deepens, more artists are exploring how art influences cognition, perception, and emotional resilience. My work embraces this intersection, using texture, layering, and contrasts to evoke the adaptability of the brain and the fluidity of thought. Additionally, the dialogue between traditional and contemporary practices is something I deeply connect with. In dance, I merge the precision of classical form with the expressive freedom of contemporary movement. In painting, I integrate classical techniques with modern materials, allowing structure and spontaneity to coexist. While I stay informed about artistic movements, my work is guided more by personal evolution than by external trends. Art, much like neuroplasticity, is about creating new pathways, honoring tradition while continuously evolving to meet the present moment.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“In my mixed-media paintings, I use materials that evoke depth and sensory engagement, including:
- Acrylics for their dynamic color application and expressive fluidity
-Modeling paste to build dimensional texture, mimicking the fluidity of movement
- Gold leaf foil to symbolize transformation and the illuminating potential of neuroplasticity
- Resin to enhance depth, reflection, and light play
Techniques and Blending Methods: I work extensively with Dutch pour and other fluid painting techniques, allowing colors to interact naturally, much like emotions and thoughts shaping one another. The Dutch pour technique, using air to manipulate paint, creates organic movement mirroring the rhythmic fluidity of dance and the ever-changing pathways of the brain. I also explore swipe and layered pouring methods, where colors blend in unpredictable yet harmonious ways, embodying the duality of control and surrender. This technique reflects how neuroplasticity reshapes cognition layers of experience influencing perception, adaptation, and growth. Additionally, I integrate blending techniques, where soft transitions between hues and textures create depth and emotion, much like the interplay of movement in choreography. Some compositions feature intentional negative space, offering a visual pause similar to the silence in music or stillness in dance, emphasizing the energy that surrounds it.”
What does your art mean to you?
“For me , art is a fusion of movement, texture, and transformation, embodying the ever-evolving journey of resilience and self-discovery.”
What’s your favourite artwork and why?
“One of my favorite artworks are the composition of various canvases for ‘The Dance in the Echoes’ Exhibition because it embodies everything I believe in, movement, transformation, and the interplay between structure and fluidity. The layers of texture, flowing colors, and reflective elements mirror the rhythm of dance and the adaptability of neuroplasticity, creating a piece that feels both grounded and limitless. It’s a visual representation of resilience, energy, and evolution, concepts that shape not only my work but also my perspective on life. Ethereal Divide is my favourite.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I have an upcoming exhibition at the Red Gallery in Melbourne from the 26 March to 6 April 2025 and Ladders Art Space in Melbourne from 9 July to 2 Aug 2025.”
