Loreen Samson
Image source Life Apparel
Loreen was a respected artist who was passionate about teaching younger generations in her community. She was born in Roebourne, Western Australia, in 1973 and sadly passed away in 2020.
Aboriginal people from the area around Roebourne call themselves Ngarda or Ngarda-nali, though many also identify with their specific language groups, referring to themselves as Ngarluma, Yindjibarndi, Guruma, or Banjima. These distinct groups have their own local traditions, resulting in a mix of laws and customs in Roebourne. Many people living in the town today have been displaced from their ancestral lands due to colonisation, the pastoral industry, and, more recently, the impacts of the mining industry.
Loreen’s artwork reflected her emotions, her advocacy for social justice, and her connection to her heritage and ancestors. She often painted about mining and its effects, using earthy tones inspired by the land. She was a multiple-time Cossack Art Award winner, and her paintings are held in the collections of the National Museum of Australia in Canberra and the Berndt Museum at the University of Western Australia.
"I draw inspiration from the beauty of the country, from the respect of the country. When we learn from the country, we experience how to do the movements of the land. The country has life. It gives life to take life."
Loreen Samson
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