During an interview in 2003, the artist stated that the idea for this work came from his criticism of the traditional use of nude models in art schools. As a teacher, he was 'very critical of the idea of the model, a naked woman standing in the middle of the floor, lots of people standing around and her taking up a sort of contrapostal pose'. He asked the model to remove her clothes, but then put on as many layers of clothes as possible and then take them off again. In doing this, he wanted students to 'consider this proposition if you like, about a body, a woman, in this case, revealing herself, exposing herself and then concealing herself'. In the same interview, he explained that this work was originally intended to have a partner, which would be the opposite of this vessel-like shape.