Pascal Casadei van Raamsdonk

For Pascal Casadei van Raamsdonk, music and technology have never been separate paths. His passion for music began in childhood, when songs became a way to discover words, languages and distant worlds. Among all the artists he encountered in those years, Queen left a particular mark, not only through the power of their songs but through the human and artistic message of Freddie Mercury.

During the same years, his interest in computing also began. From the Commodore 64 to digital transformation, from cybersecurity to artificial intelligence, Pascal developed a professional path built around innovation, communication and the ability to turn complex ideas into understandable experiences.

In 2023, the A World of His Own auction dedicated to Freddie Mercury's private collection became a turning point. Among the lots acquired by Pascal was the famous Rapax shirt worn by Freddie Mercury during the recording sessions for the One Vision video.

When that object entered his collection, Pascal understood that owning it was not enough. An object like that must be preserved, studied and told. From that moment he began a path of dialogue with museums, conservators, textile experts and other collectors, transforming collecting into a form of cultural responsibility.

Through research, personal relationships and contacts built with patience, Pascal helped create an international network of collectors connected with Freddie Mercury's memory. In a traditionally private environment, this network became a place of trust, exchange and collaboration.

Many people joined because they recognised a shared purpose: not to display objects for their material value, but to preserve their context and share the stories they carry. From this network came connections with photographers, authors, lenders, curators and people close to the world of Queen.

His entry into the exhibition world came with Queen Unseen | Peter Hince in Lucca, developed in collaboration with Blu&Blu Network. The experience at Palazzo Guinigi confirmed a central intuition: audiences do not only want to see objects and photographs, they want to understand their context, emotions and history.

From this awareness came the decision to bring the project to Switzerland. In Lugano, the exhibition became a decisive step: Pascal directly coordinated institutional relations, media, sponsors, logistics, insurance, temporary imports, lenders and relationships with people close to Freddie Mercury's world.

In Pascal’s work, the method comes from a constant balance: making objects accessible without stripping them of their context. Each exhibition should move people, while respecting sources, rights, authors, photographers, lenders and the people represented.

The name A Piece of His Own came as a natural answer to A World of His Own. If the Sotheby's auction told the private world of Freddie Mercury, each collector kept a fragment of it: a piece of his story.

Pascal Casadei van Raamsdonk does not define himself only as a collector, nor only as a curator. He prefers to see himself as someone who builds connections between people, objects and stories. Objects can outlast time. Stories need someone who keeps telling them.