The 1860s legal saga that embroiled Wagga in an international scandal is a particular fascination for local artist Scott Howie.

The identity of 'the claimant' - whether he was the Wagga butcher Arthur Orton, the swindler Thomas Castro, or indeed the baronetcy heir apparent Sir Roger Tichborne - remains a mystery.

But Mr Howie believes the saga prompts questions of relevance to a modern era of identity politics.

"When we were researching the Tichborne case, we found out it was actually the first time photographs had been used in overlay to prove that the claimant was Roger Tichborne," Mr Howie said.

"They lined up the photos to see whether the eyes, the nose, the faces matched because supposedly, a photo doesn't lie. That was the first time that kind of photographic evidence had been used in court."

Joining a panel discussion on Thursday with Museum of the Riverina historian Michelle Maddison and photography professor James Farley, Mr Howie intends to interrogate what the historic story means for the construction of modern identity.

"It was difficult to prove identity back then because it was based on recognition and a person's memory of details from personal history," Mr Howie said.

"But we now know it's really quite easy to assume someone's identity. You actually don't need that much information about them to do it."

Delving further into the question of identity with his broader art gallery exhibition, Mr Howie believes the manipulation of identity is something we all engage in every single day.

"Our identities are constantly over taken, and then with Instagram for example, we're constantly putting up our own representation of our lives," he said.

This translation to pertinent modern conundrums, Mr Howie said, is the reason Wagga and the world remain so transfixed by the Tichborne saga.

It shapes the collective identity of Wagga and its people, said Mr Howie.

"It speaks to a broader discussion, why does Wagga remain so fascinated with this story? It's still so celebrated, and really he's a scoundrel if you want to believe it, deceiving a grieving mother in the hopes of getting the fortune," he said.

"The romantic, the poet in me wants to believe he was Roger Tichborne and that it was all an amazing tragic story. But by all accounts he was a dodgy character.

"What does it say about Wagga that we're still fascinated by it."

The panel discussion will take place downstairs in the Wagga Art Gallery from 5pm on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Mr Howie's exhibition The Claimant will remain on exhbition until November 3, with Mr Howie scheduled to read the claimant's full -recanted - confessions in character on October 12.