In the 1960s, Merz’s work with energy, light and matter placed him in the movement that Germano Celant named Arte Povera, which, together with Futurism, was one of the most influential movements of Italian art in the 20th century.
Nos anos sesenta, a obra de Merz, con enerxía, luz e materia, colocouno dentro do movemento que Germano Celant chamou arte Povera, que, xunto co Futurismo, permaneceu como un dos máis influentes movementos da arte italiana no século XX.