On the Road

A journey through time presenting a singular image history of petrol stations around the world

Features four gatefold spreads presenting historical black and white images from the ENI archives.

On The Road presents the story of Italian and other worldwide petrol stations. It focuses in particular on Agip, an Italian automotive gasoline and diesel retailer established in 1926. It's distinctive logo, which depicts a bizarre image of a half dog and half dragon, with six legs and a raised crest, has become an historical symbol which signifies Italian economic success. In more than one hundred images we make a journey through Italy to France, Switzerland, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Libya, Nigeria and Ethiopia.

Featuring the short stories of ten authors, the journey starts from the modest masonry or metal kiosks at the beginning of the twentieth century and continues to show the most modern petrol stations which have been transformed from simple 'refuelling' areas into 'service' areas, which offer abundant opportunities such as cafés, restaurants, small markets, repair shops and motels. It has become a pleasant pause for motorists. The power of the images and their ability to evoke an era allows the readers to perceive numerous details and the atmosphere of an entire age.

Text in Engliah and Italian.