[citation needed] Having been attracted by African culture and art, he travelled to Ethiopia for the first time in 2007, and started teaching at Addis Ababa University in 2010.
[citation needed] Mertens’ “Social Prints” works show images such as landscapes and portraits, combining elements of pop art and traditional woodcarving.
Using materials such as plastic bags, branches, bones or animal skulls, he created several pieces of art, including Fashion Racks (2008), Jungle Fighter (2009), Knitted Egg (2014), True to Nature (2015), Global Suit (2015), and Hypoxylon Addis (2015).
[citation needed] Since 2010, Mertens has created sculptures that can be used as furniture as well, following the tradition of artists like Richard Artschwager or Ron Aaron.
[citation needed] In 2013, Mertens established a partnership between the ASFAD and the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts.