An independent curatorial project between memory, music and culture

A Piece of His Own is an independent curatorial project founded by Pascal Casadei van Raamsdonk. It began with a personal passion for music, cultural history and collecting, but developed with a clear purpose: to transform rare and often unseen materials into accessible, carefully curated and respectful exhibition experiences.

The project has a strong focus on the world of Queen and Freddie Mercury, but it is not limited to that field. Its research extends to music more broadly, from rock to jazz, from blues to pop culture, as well as potential projects connected to sport, entertainment, science and nature.

The core idea is simple: every object can become an entry point into a larger story. A vest, a photograph, a book, an instrument or a document is not valuable only because it is rare, but because of what it allows us to understand and share.

A Piece of His Own works with private collections, photographic archives, materials from international auctions and collaborations with photographers, authors, lenders and cultural institutions.

The passage from collection to exhibition is never automatic. Each element is selected, contextualised and placed within a narrative. The goal is not to accumulate objects, but to create a path that helps visitors understand why those materials matter and what part of the story they make visible.

The exhibitions curated by the project aim to bring visitors closer to the human dimension of artists: their creative work, private life, relationship with the public, aesthetic choices, personal passions and the historical context in which all this took shape.

The heart of the project is music, but music is always approached as part of a wider cultural landscape.

A Piece of His Own explores the relationship between artists and objects, images and memory, public performance and private life. A concert photograph can capture the energy of an era. A book from a personal library can open a window into an artist’s imagination. A piece of clothing can reveal the creative atmosphere of a studio, a tour or a unique historical moment.

For this reason, the project never separates collectible value from narrative value. Objects matter when they help tell a person, a period, a community or a cultural shift more clearly.

Each project is developed through a careful, practical and documented curatorial approach.

The work begins with research: identifying materials, checking available provenance, gathering information and engaging with owners, photographers, authors and partners. From there, the exhibition narrative takes shape through texts, captions, routes, images and content designed to make the visit clear, engaging and credible.

A Piece of His Own also focuses on the balance between experience and accuracy: the aim is to move people without forcing emotion, to enhance without sensationalising, and to make complex stories accessible without simplifying them too much.

A fundamental principle of the project is respect for rights, credits and artistic legacies.

A Piece of His Own pays close attention to the proper use of images, names, trademarks, works, protected materials and archival content. When necessary, the project seeks dialogue with owners, photographers, rights holders, estates, representatives or parties involved in protecting the image of artists.

Credits, disclaimers and context are an integral part of the curatorial work. The goal is not to appropriate a story, but to present it with care, transparency and respect.

A Piece of His Own is an independent project and does not present itself as an official representative of artists, bands or their respective rights holders, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

A Piece of His Own is founded and curated by Pascal Casadei van Raamsdonk, combining technological experience, project vision, cultural research and a passion for music and collecting.