THE exhibition might be cancelled but young art fan Ally Cullen was more than happy to take over.

Eight-year-old Ally decided he would like to draw emojis for the passing public and so took over Gallery 1 at the Gallery of Modern Art.

Yesterday morning the schoolboy was hard at work with paper and colouring pens, creating art to make people "feel fun and happy".

Ally, from Lanark, said: "The Emoji Movie is coming out and so I thought people would like to see different emojis, that's where I got my idea from.

"I had a lot of fun this morning drawing and colouring. I made emojis for people and they took them away with them.

"I would like to be a famous artist when I am older. Or a rugby player or teacher."

Ally's opportunity to be artist-in-residence at GoMA comes as part of "This exhibition has been cancelled", an idea from artist Marlie Mul.

Rather than the Dutch artist being on display, the public has been invited to use Gallery 1 for whatever purpose they choose.

Various events have taken place, from life drawing classes, yoga sessions, artist film screenings and Bounce and Rhyme.

But Ally had other ideas.

His dad David said: "I work in the city centre and had an hour to kill before a train so popped into GoMA where I saw a flyer talking about the idea for the exhibition.

"I took it home to show Ally and his older sister. She wasn't interested but Ally was really keen.

"His pitch to the gallery was, 'I want to draw emojis and give them to people so they will feel fun and happy."

Martin Craig, curator at the Gallery of Modern Art said: “Ally’s idea to draw emojis for visitors to the gallery immediately caught our imagination as a perfect example of how this project is open to all applications and can really give meaning and joy to the applicants and participants.

“We have been bowled over by the interest so far and the diversity of applications, from social awareness events to artist projects to people just being creative and fun with the potential of using such an iconic space.

“We are really starting to see more and more ideas come to fruition bringing new and exciting events, projects and ideas to the Gallery of Modern Art.

“The spaces are booking up fast with all the weekend spaces gone so if people want to do something in the space they should get their applications in fast.”