These two self-portraits, made in my studio, are an attempt to depict something intimate without being explicit. I wanted to express the fondness I feel for my body, with its quirks and early signs of ageing, but also imply difficult emotions — loneliness, guilt, inadequacy — and a feeling of vulnerability. The project began as an exploration of the concept of artistic constraint. I initially photographed myself posing to fill the photographic frame but later realised that leaving some space around the body made it appear more constrained. The project was really an exploration of self-imposed constraints; a desire to portray my own limitations. Looking at these images now I see a body that feels alien and somewhat intriguing – an object of curiosity that shall remain in its box.