The success of the Double Mirror installation has been contributed to by historical developments from Surrealism and Futurism ideals. It has also been influence by the art practices of Brancusi and Giacometti
Surrealism initiates the ideals of releasing the unconscious in illusionary state of mind, and has encouraged Kapoor to explore into the unconscious identity. Kapoor credits Futurism for presenting a space beyond viewer perception.
Brancusi distinguished the importance of aura within the medium. This has provided Kapoor with the opportunity to reveal his own aura of vertigo by means of the void in the reflective material which challenge’s viewers to question their identity. Giacometti contributes to historical developments by creating the sensation of emptiness within the negative space of the figure, establishing a collective cultural identity for his figures. This creation of emptiness for the collective identity has made an impact on Kapoor's installation by forcing the viewer to contemplate their collective cultural identity in their reflection of nothingness. Kapoor’s inclination toward belongs to the Post-Minimalist movement in their ideal to represent the purest aesthetic form and create a spatial relationship between the viewer and the object. By forcing the viewer to challenge the void of aesthetics and recognized their identity in their experience within a spatial void.
Kapoor breaks sculptural convention with his non-traditional approach asking the viewer to bring expression to the sculpture, thus questioning the role of the artist as the representation of the expression. He also breaks sculptural convention through the use of this medium. The medium is the message rather than the medium illustrating the message.