Loreen Samson was a First Nations artist, a proud Ngarluma woman, born in Roebourne, Western Australia.
2020
marks the start of our creative collaboration
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exclusive artwork licensed and celebrated
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unique products made for impact
Introduction
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.""
Limited Edition
Voice Of Land
Medium: Acrylic On Canvas Year: 2020
Story: The land owns us; we do not own the land. We learn from her when we acknowledge that she is our mother, that she speaks to us, and that she carries wisdom beyond our understanding. She has her own culture, her own spirit, and she teaches us through every breath of wind, every whisper of the trees, and every ripple in the water. The land provides for us, nurtures us, and holds the essence of life itself.
Our ancestors walked these same paths, moving in harmony with Country. The roots of our people are entwined with the spirit of the land, inseparable from its heartbeat. Their footsteps remain etched in the earth, their stories woven into the landscape, like ancient drawings on rock walls—timeless, sacred, and alive.”
Limited Edition
Voice Of Land
Medium: Acrylic On Canvas Year: 2020
Story: The land owns us; we do not own the land. We learn from her when we acknowledge that she is our mother, that she speaks to us, and that she carries wisdom beyond our understanding. She has her own culture, her own spirit, and she teaches us through every breath of wind, every whisper of the trees, and every ripple in the water. The land provides for us, nurtures us, and holds the essence of life itself.
Our ancestors walked these same paths, moving in harmony with Country. The roots of our people are entwined with the spirit of the land, inseparable from its heartbeat. Their footsteps remain etched in the earth, their stories woven into the landscape, like ancient drawings on rock walls—timeless, sacred, and alive.”
Voice Of Land
Voice Of Land
Medium: Acrylic On Canvas Year: 2020
Story: The land owns us; we do not own the land. We learn from her when we acknowledge that she is our mother, that she speaks to us, and that she carries wisdom beyond our understanding. She has her own culture, her own spirit, and she teaches us through every breath of wind, every whisper of the trees, and every ripple in the water. The land provides for us, nurtures us, and holds the essence of life itself.
Our ancestors walked these same paths, moving in harmony with Country. The roots of our people are entwined with the spirit of the land, inseparable from its heartbeat. Their footsteps remain etched in the earth, their stories woven into the landscape, like ancient drawings on rock walls—timeless, sacred, and alive.”
Life Apparel is an approved signatory of the Indigenous Art Code. This ensures ethical trading, integrity, transparency, and accountability in dealings with First Nations Artists. The code empowers artists, supporting them in achieving fair and transparent commercial opportunities for their art.
We are strong champions of ethical practices in the industry and see the voluntary Code of Conduct as a pivotal means to achieve this, reinforcing our commitment to fostering a culture of respect and fairness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artists.
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Acknowledgement Of Country
Life Apparel celebrates and acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging for their generosity and custodianship of Country throughout Australia.
We recognise and honour the ongoing connection and deep spiritual relationship that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to this Country, and acknowledge the unique role they play in caring for and protecting it for future generations. As an Australian-led boutique label and proud allies, we demonstrate our respect for First Nations peoples through our commitments to environmentally sustainable and ethical business practices. We recognise their continuing connection to land and waters, and thank them for protecting our natural resources and ecosystems.
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