In this deeply personal conversation, Magdalena Westman traces the arc of her life from her early years in a pastor’s family in Czechoslovakia to her transformative experiences in South Africa—where the seeds of her art therapy practice first began to take root.
Growing up in a home filled with intellect, faith, and compassion, Magdalena’s childhood was shaped by both inspiration and challenge. Her family’s moral integrity during the years of political repression left a lasting imprint, instilling in her a sensitivity to human struggle and resilience. Those formative experiences would later find their way into her work, not through words, but through color, texture, and the spontaneous movement of the hand across paper.
Our conversation moves gently between memory and meaning—how a sense of “being different” as a child became a source of empathy, and how the creative act became, for Magdalena, a path to freedom and healing. In South Africa, amidst new landscapes and cultural encounters, she began to sense art’s potential to bridge inner and outer worlds—a realization that led her to study and eventually teach art therapy after returning to the Czech Republic.
Today, Magdalena is known for her intuitive approach to creativity—inviting people to reconnect with their childlike curiosity through mark-making, reflection, and presence. Her workshops and writings reveal how even the simplest doodle can become a doorway to emotional understanding and self-discovery.
This interview offers a rare glimpse into a life shaped by courage, creativity, and compassion—and into an artistic philosophy that reminds us that healing often begins with a single, spontaneous line.
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In this deeply personal conversation, Magdalena Westman traces the arc of her life from her early years in a pastor’s family in Czechoslovakia to her transformative experiences in South Africa—where the seeds of her art therapy practice first began to take root.
Growing up in a home filled with intellect, faith, and compassion, Magdalena’s childhood was shaped by both inspiration and challenge. Her family’s moral integrity during the years of political repression left a lasting imprint, instilling in her a sensitivity to human struggle and resilience. Those formative experiences would later find their way into her work, not through words, but through color, texture, and the spontaneous movement of the hand across paper.
Our conversation moves gently between memory and meaning—how a sense of “being different” as a child became a source of empathy, and how the creative act became, for Magdalena, a path to freedom and healing. In South Africa, amidst new landscapes and cultural encounters, she began to sense art’s potential to bridge inner and outer worlds—a realization that led her to study and eventually teach art therapy after returning to the Czech Republic.
Today, Magdalena is known for her intuitive approach to creativity—inviting people to reconnect with their childlike curiosity through mark-making, reflection, and presence. Her workshops and writings reveal how even the simplest doodle can become a doorway to emotional understanding and self-discovery.
This interview offers a rare glimpse into a life shaped by courage, creativity, and compassion—and into an artistic philosophy that reminds us that healing often begins with a single, spontaneous line.
Mbasa Tsetsana: Shaping Stories Across Stage and Screen
Petra Sittig
54 minutes 36 seconds
2 months ago
Mbasa Tsetsana: Shaping Stories Across Stage and Screen
In this episode of The Artist’s Voice, I did an interview with Mbasa Tsetsana – a theatre actor, writer, and director whose journey through the arts has been nothing short of inspiring.
Mbasa’s story begins in East London, South Africa, but his craft has taken him to some of the country’s most renowned stages and screens. From interning and writing for the beloved South African soapie Muvhango, to having his script Fallen Angel selected for ETV’s EKASI: Our Stories in 2013, Mbasa has carved a place for himself in both theatre and film.
On stage, he has brought characters to life in powerful productions such as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Athol Fugard’s Master Harold and the Boys, Femi Osofisan’s Morountodun (directed by Andrew Buckland), and Red Shoes (by Leila Henriques). As an award-winning playwright and director, Mbasa’s works have graced stages at the Nelson Mandela Bay Theatre Complex, the East London Guild Theatre, the Joburg Theatre, the South African State Theatre, Artscape, and WITS Theatre.
But beyond his achievements, Mbasa speaks passionately about the spirit of creation – about making art not for money first, but for the process, the story, and the soul. In this conversation, he reflects on the challenges of the South African film and theatre industry, the importance of supporting local artists, and his vision of a world where creativity thrives before commerce.Join me for a conversation that celebrates artistry, resilience, and the power of storytelling.
Don’t forget to subscribe to The Artist’s Voice for more inspiring interviews with artists from around the world.
Petra Sittig
In this deeply personal conversation, Magdalena Westman traces the arc of her life from her early years in a pastor’s family in Czechoslovakia to her transformative experiences in South Africa—where the seeds of her art therapy practice first began to take root.
Growing up in a home filled with intellect, faith, and compassion, Magdalena’s childhood was shaped by both inspiration and challenge. Her family’s moral integrity during the years of political repression left a lasting imprint, instilling in her a sensitivity to human struggle and resilience. Those formative experiences would later find their way into her work, not through words, but through color, texture, and the spontaneous movement of the hand across paper.
Our conversation moves gently between memory and meaning—how a sense of “being different” as a child became a source of empathy, and how the creative act became, for Magdalena, a path to freedom and healing. In South Africa, amidst new landscapes and cultural encounters, she began to sense art’s potential to bridge inner and outer worlds—a realization that led her to study and eventually teach art therapy after returning to the Czech Republic.
Today, Magdalena is known for her intuitive approach to creativity—inviting people to reconnect with their childlike curiosity through mark-making, reflection, and presence. Her workshops and writings reveal how even the simplest doodle can become a doorway to emotional understanding and self-discovery.
This interview offers a rare glimpse into a life shaped by courage, creativity, and compassion—and into an artistic philosophy that reminds us that healing often begins with a single, spontaneous line.
