There are exhibitions and then there are experiences. On Saturday, March 21, Lagos witnessed the unveiling of This Land is Green, a solo exhibition by Biodun Omolayo, opening just two days ahead of his 62nd birthday. It was not just timely, the exhibition was intentional. For a man who has long turned birthdays into artistic milestones, this was yet another living, breathing celebration of purpose. And truly, the land was green.

Words Ireho Aito | Don’t Keep Your Art in the Finger | Photographs credit – Role Favour Oluwaseun

From the moment guests stepped into the gallery, there was a palpable shift in atmosphere, just one that blended colour, sound, memory, and emotion into a unified sensory journey. The choice of soundtrack set the tone of the day, The Land is Green by musician and photographer TY Bello floated through the space like a quiet invocation. Soulful, nostalgic, and deeply rooted, the song stirred something familiar among early guests, few of whom arrived adorned in subtle and not-so-subtle shades of green, as if in quiet homage to the theme.

It was immersive. It was intentional. It was Omolayo exhibition. Timi Melaye, one of Biodun Omolayo’s foremost collector opened the exhibition with high spirited worship song and prayer. Also among the early birds was veteran journalist and art critic Ozolua Uhakheme, Mrs. Alonge, a high end collector and supporter of the art.

One captivating takeaway is the curatorial direction of the exhibition which was both deliberate and poetic.

At the entrance, The Healing Stream work, greets visitors. This is a calming, almost spiritual piece that sets the emotional tone. It is gentle, restorative, and quietly powerful, inviting viewers to pause, breathe, and receive.

While at the far end hangs Acres of Wealth, a striking contrast in scale and intensity. Bold, expansive, and undeniably commanding, the piece stretches across the wall (81cm x 203cm), asserting itself as a collector’s treasure. One of Biodun Omolayo’s lifelong collectors Timi Melaye was already admiring the piece to collect. He says, “I was in the gallery when he was working on the piece. I have picked one already but still need a bigger work for my target,” he reveals

Works like Erin Ijesha Waterfall capture the lush dynamism of nature, while Eko Atijo – Isale Eko grounds the viewer in history and cultural memory of life in Lagos Island. Mother’s Nature softens the narrative with nurturing undertones, while the illustrious Path to Peace, a mixed media work offers a contemplative pause in the middle of the visual rhythm.

There is romance in Lovers Garden, introspection in Life Maze, and global nostalgia in I Miss Switzerland. Each piece feels like a chapter, yet all are bound by a singular theme which is abundance.

Omolayo’s strength has always been his ability to elevate the ordinary into the extraordinary through the power of language.

In Ije Market, the chaos and colour of everyday commerce come alive with rhythmic energy. Ije Market is at the back of Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi. The Green Shirt Cart Pusher transforms a familiar street figure into a symbol of dignity and resilience. In Search of Education, two little pupils quietly echoes aspiration, signifying a theme deeply rooted in the African experience for quality education.

Even Familiar Mask speaks in layered tones revealing identity, culture, and perhaps the dualities we all carry.

Then there are works like Flow of Abundance and Refreshing Pool, where colour itself becomes language, fills with fluid, expressive, and deeply meditative.

Across the collection, one thing is clear and that is, this is not art removed from life. This is art immersed in it.

What makes this exhibition particularly inviting is not just the quality of the work but the continuity of vision.

For over three decades, Biodun Omolayo has remained consistent in one thing: using art as a tool for celebration, reflection, and spiritual expression. From Naming Ceremony to This Land is Green, his exhibitions are less about moments and more about movements.

And in Lagos that we all know as a city that thrives on reinvention that kind of consistency is rare.

“Biodun Omolayo is a genius,” Timi Melaye whispered, standing before Acres of Wealth. It was not said loudly, but it did not need to be.

As the great artist marks his birthday on March 23, there is little doubt that he has much to celebrate. Not just years, but impact. Not just art, but legacy. And in every sense of the word, this land, his land, our land is indeed green.

iBAND Magazine, Celebrating Visual Arts from the Original.
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