The 'Wonderstruck' exhibition at Queensland's Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) brings together more than 100 works by over 70 Australian and international artists, showcasing wonder in both everyday objects and large-scale creations.

Spread across the gallery's ground floor, the exhibition features several prominent Indigenous artists, including Wik-Alkan man Craig Koomeeta, Waanyi man Gordon Hookey, and Torres Strait Islander (Waiben) artist Brian Robinson.

Mr Koomeeta's sculpture 'Apelech Brothers' draws from a creation story shared by all five ceremonial groups of the Wik people.

The title refers to "two initiates" and represents both inland and coastal clan members.

The dotted carvings symbolise sparkling water, with stingray spine motifs referencing Wik spear designs.

Speaking about the sacred nature of the work, Mr Koomeeta said the Apelech Brothers are "pretty much a very strong representative of my Apelech clan group…they're the ones that created my clan".

He said the process of making the sculpture required cultural care and ceremony.

"You have to be very careful… making it together, have the song line, and singing the same time as you making them and putting your underarm smell on it," he said.

Mr Koomeeta also spoke about a second piece in the exhibition titled 'Wuungkun (Barramundi)'. While it also features in ceremonial dance, he explained this piece is more accessible.

"We both use it for dancing, but this is pretty much anyone can dance… but the Apelech Brothers is so sacred to our clan and only certain people can dance and sing the song line and use the body marks on it," he said.

The sculptures were carved from milkwood, a soft timber commonly used in his practice.

He said the works have remained at the gallery since their first showing in the 2002 Story Place exhibition.

"It's good for me to see them again… we're all a long way from home."

Mr Hookey's animated piece Sacred Hill tells the story of kangaroos driven from their land by a mob of myna birds.

He said the introduced mynas serve as a metaphor for colonisers, while the native kangaroos represent Aboriginal people.

"I just use that as a metaphor… where often in my practice I will take introduced species and represent them by the introduced people. So, that's kind of the pretext that I work from… native animals come out victorious."

Mr Hookey said the narrative, while playful, invites audiences to reflect on deeper meanings of dispossession and restoration.

"In the end, it was about how the kangaroos got their land and country back… they were happy because they were at home," he said.

"It's kind of loaded with meaning and subtle kinds of ways… it seeps into the psyche of those that are viewing it."

Mr Robinson, a Kala Lagaw Ya and Wuthathi man from the Torres Strait, presents a large-scale print titled 'Lagalgal: The Mysteries of our Land' (2022).

Inspired by Torres Strait constellations, the work links celestial movements to seasonal changes and Islander life.

An animated version of the work is also available for children within the exhibition space.

Wonderstruck is now open at GOMA, with all works drawn from the gallery's own collection plus many more striking pieces.