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)

Performance by Sebastian Bieniek in the Sophiensäle in Berlin, 1999 titeled "In Front of the Distance". Artist is walking a distance while the blood is draining.

On October 5th, 1999, Sebastian Bieniek ran in the performance "In Front Of The Distance" along a long length of fabric on which his blood spilled. The performance took place in the Sophienhöfe in Berlin on the occasion of the "Panel discussion on cultural policy in Berlin" in the Sophienaal.

Press reviews:

English translation from originally german text:

"(...) Sebastian Bieniek literally let himself bleed to death between the hall and the street. A drastic action against the cabaret misery of the first performance."

DIE TAZ (06.10.1999)

Original german text:

"(...) Sebastian Bieniek ließ sich zwischen Saal und Straße regelrecht ausbluten. Eine drastische Aktion wider das Kleinkunstelend der ersten Performance.

"DIE TAZ (06.10.1999)

Performance by Sebastian Bieniek in the Sophiensäle in Berlin, 1999 titeled "In Front of the Distance". Artist is walking a distance while the blood is draining.

Performance by Sebastian Bieniek in the Sophiensäle in Berlin, 1999 titeled "In Front of the Distance". Artist is walking a distance while the blood is draining.