The work was created during a relationship she had in the mid-1990s with Carl Freedman, who had been an early friend of, and collaborator with, Damien Hirst, and who had co-curated seminal Britart shows, such as "Modern Medicine" and "Gambler". In 1995, Freedman curated the show "Minky Manky" at the South London Gallery, where the tent was first shown. At that time Emin had not achieved the level of fame she later did, and was mainly known in art circles; she was fortunate to be able to exhibit alongside better-known artists such as Hirst, Gilbert and George and Sarah Lucas. Emin described the genesis of the work, which turned out unexpectedly to be the show's highlight: