What is the difference between "Performance", "Action Art", "Installation Art" and Video Art?

When the artist or the body of the artist is in focus, so the acting is part of the artwork, it's a performance. When the artist isn't visible but it's still about people and when it's that fast changing in time that you can see the "Beginning" and then "End", than it's "Action Art" (Happaning is kind of outsourced - not directed by a single artist but by many). Installation is when you can't see it "changing" in time, so it looks always the same, or can be at least restored, and when it's about objects.

However even still some installations like "My Breath rests here" ("Hier ruht mein Atem") have some performance character (at least in the creation phase), but than again not really, because than "the painting of a painting" could be also a performance, so it's more about the focus.

A recorded and shown as a video performance, without real life viewer and the interaction with the viewer like "The 30 € truth" or "Crying for this Video" for example is a video. (Definition by Bieniek)

Sebastian Bieniek performance in a burqa at the Art Forum Berlin 2009 art fair.

Sebastian Bieniek and a companion appeared in a burqa in 2009 at Art Forum Berlin, the most important art fair in Germany at the time. In itself, that wouldn't be worth mentioning. The reactions, however, and the sensation - besides attempted expulsion - make this performance more than remarkable. This proves once again that art is less the object than its reception.

Sebastian Bieniek performance in a burqa at the Art Forum Berlin 2009 art fair.

Sebastian Bieniek performance in a burqa at the Art Forum Berlin 2009 art fair.

Sebastian Bieniek performance in a burqa at the Art Forum Berlin 2009 art fair.

Sebastian Bieniek performance in a burqa at the Art Forum Berlin 2009 art fair.

Sebastian Bieniek performance in a burqa at the Art Forum Berlin 2009 art fair.

Sebastian Bieniek performance in a burqa at the Art Forum Berlin 2009 art fair.