About

Our project draws inspiration from Walter Kempowski's "Das Echolot. Ein kollektives Tagebuch” (1993), a monumental work that serves as a collective diary of events during a pivotal historical moment. Kempowski compiled an extensive amount of personal accounts, letters, diary entries, and other documents from a wide variety of people. It is a powerful example of how individual voices can form a collective narrative, creating a deeper understanding of the human condition.

Similarly, this project seeks to echo that spirit by allowing users to document their personal reflections, contributing to a shared tapestry of memories and experiences. Just as "Das Echolot" gathered fragments of private lives to reflect on a larger cultural landscape, our goal is to provide a platform for diverse voices to document and explore their individual journeys.

The name "Echolotl" is a creative blend of two distinct concepts: "Echolot," which refers to the collective diary project by Walter Kempowski, and "Axolotl," a fascinating amphibian known for its regenerative abilities and unique nature. By combining these elements, "Echolotl" symbolizes the project’s core idea: gathering and echoing individual voices and stories in a way that is both regenerative and reflective of a broader collective consciousness. The name encapsulates the idea of individual reflections (like the entries in Kempowski’s "Echolot") coming together, while the Axolotl’s characteristics of renewal and adaptability suggest the ever-evolving, living nature of personal and collective narratives.