The Somos Axolotl story
Who we are
Somos Axolotl is an art- and tech-based initiative created by a digital artist, a muralist, and an environmental activist — three individuals united in their desire to push back against the potential extinction of one of the world's most compelling animals, the axolotl salamander.
Spearheaded by Matt “Scum” Martinez, Somos Axolotl works alongside the vibrant Xochimilco community in Mexico City to protect and restore axolotl populations through the development of sustainable economic systems for local farmers, businesses, organizations, and tourism operators.
There can be no path toward healthy and balanced relationships with our natural environment without sustainable relationships between people, places, and our planet's other denizens. Somos Axolotl uses technology and art to inspire action, create solutions, and build partnerships supporting symbiosis between Xochimilco's human and axolotl populations.
As this project matures, the tools built and lessons learned in Xochimilco will become available to communities around the world.
Lake Xochimilco: Where the Flowers Grow
Environment
For millennia, the wetland area known as Xochimilco (Nahuatl for “where the flowers grow”) was a wide and shallow lake hosting a remarkable array of fauna, including frogs, snakes, fish, brightly colored birds, and the axolotl salamander.
Community
Xochimilco represents one of the only remaining areas where the footprint of Tenochtitlan, the ancient Aztec capital, has not melted away into the vastness of Mexico City.
Creativity
Xochimilco is bursting with potential. Future-facing entrepreneurs, visionary artists, and inspiring activists can all be found along the shores of the ancient lake.
Our partners
Organizations we support
Our vision
We believe in a world where art and technology help communities to thrive by protecting and honoring their natural environment rather than having to plunder it for their survival.
We are grateful to the many conservationists, social justice activists, and community leaders who have inspired us with their determination to build a better world. These visionaries made Somos Axolotl’s inception possible.