Read an excerpt of award-winning author Elif Shefak’s lecture exploring how imagination and artistic practice shape our understanding of the world.
Elif Shafak gave the first iteration of the annual Counterpoints lecture at the Southbank Centre in London on 27 June 2026. Delivered to a crowd of several hundred attendees as part of Southbank Centre’s Refugee Week programme, she reflected on the link between creativity and courage, and explored how creativity can open paths to belonging, imagination and collaboration in times of conflict, fear and political division. After the lecture, Shefak was in conversation with author, journalist and broadcaster, Zing Tsjeng.
An edited version of this lecture was first published in The Observer on 5 July, and the author has kindly allowed us to share it so that you can also read it – available via the link below.
“I am thrilled to share with you my piece that originated from the inaugural Counterpoints Lecture for Refugee Week at the Southbank Centre. It was an immense pleasure and honour for me to be part of this meaningful and warm gathering. We had such a wonderfully diverse and engaged audience – people from all walks of life and from so many different backgrounds coming together to appreciate our shared humanity. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support.” – Elif Shefak.
READ COUNTERPOINTS LECTURE WITH ELIF SHEFAK
About Elif Shafak
Elif Shafak is an award-winning and highly acclaimed British-Turkish novelist whose work has been translated into 55 languages. The author of 21 books, including 13 novels, she is a bestselling author in many countries around the world.
Shafak holds a PhD in political science and is President of the Royal Society of Literature and a Public Humanities Fellow at the School of Advanced Studies (SAS). She is a leading voice on freedom of expression, women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights.
