“Vida con Vida” was a performance commissioned by artist Brian Lobel for Cruising for Art: Cruise for Your Own Special Art Experience at Tate Britain for the Queer and Now Exhibition. Vida was five years old at the time. The public performance explored the dynamics between a child and an adult, where the child had control over how the adult was styled. Vida is male but many confused their gender during this performance, which was interesting.

Vida welcomed participants identifiable by colored handkerchiefs. After several performances Vida became more active and would playfully invite adults into their performance. Vida styled participants using clothes and accessories, creating both serious and playful looks. Vida would then photograph them and provide the participants with a Polaroid keepsake. Vida was interviewed for their perspective:

Q: When you met with Brian what did you talk about?

A: To do a performance, I don’t know what a performance means. We talked about dressing people up as a performance.

Q: Did you enjoy dressing people up?

A: Yes, very much.

Q: Why?

A: Because I like to dress people up.

Q: How did it make you feel?

A: Happy.

Q: What do you think it made the others feel?

A: Excited.

Q: What did you think about it being at Tate Britain?

A: It felt good it was there.

Q: Why would it be at Tate Britain?

A: To have the space, so more people could come.

Q: Was it tiring?

A: Yes it was tiring. Although it was and wasn’t tiring, I wasn’t tired at the end, I wanted to keep going.

Q: Why do you think people wore handkerchiefs?

A: To show who was coming.

Q: If they wore them what did you do?

A: Got the people, dressed them up, and then took a photo of them.

Q: Anything special about the day?

A: Dressing up, lots of others around.

Q: Did you dress people in a specific way?

A: No, whatever I could find or decide.

Q: How would you decide?

A: By my mind.

Q: Did anything inspire you?

A: No, nothing.

Q: What would you tell others about the performance?

A: You can dress like someone else.

Q: Did any other children perform?

A: No.

Q: Did any kids come to your performance?

A: Yes, two girls, I dressed one as a cat, they were very excited.