An exhibition of 100 photographs by Jacklyn Wagner, taking in the aftermath of the February 2022 flood is on display in Parliament House, Sydney, until 25 May.


Andrew Neave and Eric the dog. © Jacklyn Wagner. The caption reads: Andrew and his partner Jelani with their dog Eric were rescued from a window by a civilian. They lost everything including both their cars. “We put Carlotta, our chook, in a cage and hung her from the rafters. Four days later she was alive and had laid four eggs. She was a big hit at the evacuation centre.”

The images were captured by award-winning photojournalist Jacklyn Wagner and the project received support from the Premiers Department Discretionary Grant (Premier Dominic Perrottet); Arts Grant, Minister for Arts, Ben Franklin; IAS Fine Art Logistics; Lismore Regional Gallery, an initiative of Lismore City Council; Richmond Tweed Regional Library; and Nikon Australia. Titled Through the Heart… a Flood of Fears and Tears, it has been described as a ‘love letter to Lismore and its resilient spirit’, The exhibition features 25 portraits taken in homes across the city following the February 2022 flooding.

The display can be found inside the Parliament’s Fountain Court on weekdays between 9am and 5pm until Thursday 25 May 2023. If you can’t get to the venue, you can see a virtual presentation of the exhibition here.